Insider Says Anthony Stolarz 'Has Leverage' Over Maple Leafs in Extension Talks

Anthony Stolarz, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender removes his mask after a play

It was revealed a couple of weeks back that the Toronto Maple Leafs and top goaltender Anthony Stolarz are hoping to hammer out an extension to keep him in the Blue & White beyond the coming season. But according to insider Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts, it's Stolarz who has 'a lot of leverage.'

I don't think term is going to be the issue here. I think it seems to me like this is going to be likely three or four years. I think the issue has been the number (AAV). The challenge for Toronto here is that Stolarz really has a lot of leverage. He's indicated that he doesn't want this to go into the season.

In other words, get something done in the next two weeks or so, or he'll play out this campaign as a pending unrestricted free agent.

In addition, said Friedman, Stolarz's leverage is increased even more by the fact that available good goaltending on next summer's market will be a scarce commodity around the league for teams in need.

"He can bet on himself at a time when there's really not a lot of other goalies available out there.

“I still think they’re going back and forth. When two sides go back and forth — as much as it appears that these two are — it says to me that there is a willingness to do a deal there. But I always look at it:... Who benefits by being able to take more of a chance? And it probably is the player in this case.”

The 31-year-old netminder posted a 2.14 goals against average along with the best save percentage in the NHL last season, at .926, with a 5th-place finish in voting for the Vezina Trophy. He posted a .925 Sv% the previous season as well, while playing limited games with the Florida Panthers as the backup. Perhaps the Leafs would be best served to lock him in before the price goes up even more, if he has another big year.

As for that price?Friedman suggests between a $4.5M and $5M cap hit, on a three- or four-year deal.

Stolarz did start a career-high 33 games last year, but injuries did keep that number down. Management is likely taking that injury history into consideration in negotiations, as well as the fact that they're already spending $3.66 million in cap space on the other half of their goaltending tandem, in Joseph Woll for the next three seasons.