The season for the Toronto Maple Leafs is officially over, and they failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016, the same year in which they drafted future team captain Auston Matthews.
The Maple Leafs were done in by not only their heavily inconsistent play, but multiple injuries to so many key players on their roster, not the least of which were forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander along with starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz.
Speaking of Stolarz, he had a clear vision for the team moving forward in how he’d like to see them play in an effort to get back to their winning ways beginning next season.
Toronto Maple Leafs Goalie Anthony Stolarz Has A Clear Vision For The Club Next Season
While holding his media availability session on Thursday, Stolarz explained he feels the team needed a heavier compete level and, would like to see them “play like bastards” for next season.
“We have to play like bastards,” he said. “We have to play hard and we have to play heavy.”
He also said that he hopes that the results of this season will force everyone to look in the mirror and use it as fuel for success moving forward.
“We got served a slice of humble pie this year, hopefully that fuels everyone,” he said.
The Maple Leafs Re-Signed Anthony Stolarz To A Multi-Year Contract
Stolarz had bounced around the National Hockey League early in his career, seeing time with clubs like the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks before signing with the Florida Panthers ahead of the 2023-24 NHL season.
He helped the Panthers win the Stanley Cup as backup to Sergei Bobrovsky, and then decided to stay in the Atlantic Division by signing with the Maple Leafs. After a successful first year in Toronto, he was re-signed to a three-year contract.
However, his second year with the Maple Leafs was anything but idea, mostly because of injury.
Stolarz suffered a nerve injury during a Nov. 11 contest against the Boston Bruins, missing the next several weeks. During his recovery in January, he took the time to explain the ailment.
“You just have to let it settle down. I think that’s the biggest thing,” Stolarz said. “It’s not like a bruise, where it goes away. It was just something that I just kind of had to let heal on its own, and it just took a little while.”
“We took the right steps to get everything going and, like I said, I feel good now and just trying to ramp up in practice, get some reps,” the goaltender continued. “I’m excited to be back, be around the group, and you start getting that fire in your belly as you get closer here. It’s exciting to step on the ice every day right now.”
During his second season in Toronto, Stolarz compiled a record of 10-10-3 with a 3.28 goals-against average, a .893 save percentage, and no shutouts. He and the club will be hoping that next season goes differently.
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