TORONTO — Last time Anthony Stolarz suited up for a game in this barn, an opponent flew by his crease and delivered a headshot.
On Saturday night, the same thing happened.
When Laval Rocket star Laurent Dauphin drove to the paint and snapped Stolarzâ€s neck back — earning a goalie interference penalty and a stern talking-to from Oliver Ekman-Larsson for his recklessness — Leafs fans gasped.
Stolarz shook off the contact quickly.
“Itâ€s something you kinda get used to,†Stolarz downplayed. “As a goalie, you know how to brace yourself and what to expect. So, heâ€s just driving the net trying to make a hard play. He runs into me, and we get a power play out of it.â€
All good. No need to panic.
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“Itâ€s always a risky play. The whole preseason, youâ€re always worried about something happening to somebody, right?†coach Craig Berube said.
“Yeah, thatâ€s obviously concerning. But he was good. He was fine, and he was moving well tonight in net.â€
With Joseph Woll already sidelined indefinitely, the knock to Torontoâ€s No. 1 goaltender was a reminder of how desperately the Leafs are depending on the big man to stay healthy.
To that end, Stolarz is welcoming a hefty workload in 2025-26.
The career-high 34 games played last season? He aims to raise the bar again.
“First and foremost, you want to play more games than you did last year,†Stolarz said, prior to logging two periods of work in Saturdayâ€s lacklustre 4-2 exhibition loss at home to Montreal.
“Iâ€ve been working with the medical staff, coming in and strengthening my lower body, my upper body, just trying to keep those minor tweaks away.
“I worked a lot this summer with my trainer and my goalie coach as well, just working on things to stay healthy.â€
The 31-year-oldâ€s complicated relationship with availability has factored in his agentâ€s ongoing contract negotiations with the Maple Leafs.
Both sides are hopeful theyâ€ll hammer a deal prior to opening night.
“He calls me probably every two or three days to just give me an update,†Stolarz said. “But I let him take care of it. Heâ€s negotiated thousands of contracts. Iâ€m just focused on getting ready for the start of the season, get a few games in here, and looking forward to that opener.
“Thatâ€s kind of why we give them the big bucks to do that. My job is to focus on playing.â€
A combination of Stolarzâ€s knee injuries and his playing behind a more proven No. 1 have limited his workload in seasons past, but heâ€s hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow American netminders Tim Thomas and Ben Bishop, who became Cup-contending starters late in their careers.
“Itâ€s nice to have guys that you can look up to, guys that may peak later and can offer inspiration for guys who have similar trajectories as me,†Stolarz said.
“Whether you get hurt or whether you just havenâ€t been put in the right opportunity, you just keep working and good things will happen.â€
What will the world learn about the enigma wrapped in designer that is William Nylander now that he has launched his own YouTube channel?
“I donâ€t really know,†Rielly said, wryly. “I donâ€t think a whole lot, but weâ€ll see.â€
Well, we watched Episode 1, “Summer in Sweden,†which dropped Friday night.
And weâ€re not certain we learned a whole lot, but the 10-minute highlight reel does give diehards (28,500 subscribers and counting) a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the superstarâ€s off-ice life — and his expensive wardrobe.
“I just thought it would be a fun thing to do and give fans an insight to my life away from the rink,†explained Nylander, who is also featured in both season of Prime Videoâ€s FaceOff: Inside the NHL. “Hopefully some fun stuff in there.â€
Nylanderâ€s documentary endeavour, produced with help from his family, has been subject to dressing-room chatter.
“I heard rumblings,†Stolarz said. “I guess Iâ€ll have to hop on YouTube and take a peek at that and see what Willyâ€s been up to.â€
Stolarz might need that new contract to afford what Willyâ€s been up to.
First stop the Hall, next stop the NHL
Easton Cowan has yet to make the NHL (although that is starting to feel imminent), and heâ€s already in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The Leafs†top prospect didnâ€t know that his game-worn sweater from the London Knights Memorial Cup championship is on display downtown as part of the Hallâ€s “Road to the Top†showcase.
“One of my buddies was in Toronto and sent me a picture,†Cowan smiled. “I was like, ‘Oh, thatâ€s pretty cool. Iâ€ll take it.†â€
Cowan popped in to see the display this week.
“Definitely special to see,†the Memorial Cup MVP said. “Just brought back a lot of memories I had in London.â€
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