3 Potential Trade Destinations For Maple Leafs' Stolarz

The Toronto Maple Leafs are about to have three healthy and active goalie who should all be in the NHL, and it isn't a good strategy to run three goalie for very long. The Maple Leafs might end up having to do that for a short period of time, but Anthony Stolarz, who is returning from injury very soon, should be a trade candidate by how the other two have played.

Nick Kypreos said, "There are teams out there that need a goalie and not a lot is available at the position. So, if Anthony Stolarz can come back and be healthy for a stretch, he's a trade chip they could use." The Maple Leafs are a different team than the last time Stolarz was healthy and playing better in front of their goalies, so a game or two back in the NHL in Toronto could show his numbers improve and his trade value and interest from other teams rise as well.

While Hildeby can be sent back down, why would the Maple Leafs do that considering he has a .912 SV% and they are in the thick of the playoff race with stiff competition all around them. With all that being said, let's look at three destinations Toronto can trade Stolarz to.

Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators are struggling greatly in net, and just because they brought in James Reimer, it doesn't change their situation. He is arguably a better option than Leevi Merilainen, Mads Soogard, and Hunter Shepard and his numbers through two games prove that, but that's a very small sample size and the Senators have ground to make up.

Ottawa seems to be stuck with Linus Ullmark on his contract and will hope for better results out of him when he returns and moving forward, but a more reliable tandem can also be the solution. Stolarz isn't overly expensive and he's signed for four more years, a year longer than Ullmark is under contract. If both can return to form from last season, things could turn around in a massive way. And at this rate, Stolarz should be back well before Ullmark as we have no timeline for the Senators' starter.

Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers should start thinking about the future. They traded Spencer Knight who was supposed to be that, but it paid off with a second Stanley Cup. At this time, Sergei Bobrovsky is 37 years old and in the last year of his deal. Even if he re-signs, his numbers are just not good for the type of team that is playing in front of him. He has a 3.09 GAA and .875 SV%.

Daniil Tarasov has played better, but hasn't played much and there's no guarantee that he's the long-term or even short-term solution as the starter in Florida. With the team they have in front of their goalies, the team can't afford to struggle and lose out with goaltending. Stolarz would be much cheaper than Bobrovsky and give them time to find a different solution.

St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues seem destined to move on from Jordan Binnington, especially considering Joel Hofer, a much younger and better goalie, is taking over the net if they'll let him and want to get back in the playoff race. The Blues are likely going through a number of changes this season and trading Binnington will be one of them if a team has enough interest. His numbers are very bad with a 3.59 GAA and .869 SV%.

Even Stolarz, who struggled for much less time, had an .884 SV%, and his numbers last season were Vezina-worthy. A tandem of Stolarz and Hofer could shake things up enough in a good way for the Blues and help push them in the direction they hope to go after this season is done.