NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs Could Trade A Goaltender

Friday, January 16, 2026

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz makes a save during 2025 game.

Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos just poured gasoline on the Toronto Maple Leafs rumor mill by floating that Toronto could turn its goalie depth into help elsewhere before the March trade deadline. 

With Joseph Woll holding the crease and reinforcements coming, Kypreos’ idea is to cash in from a position of surplus to chase a scoring winger or a defenseman.

Why Kypreos has Toronto looking at its crease as leverage

The heart of the chatter is Anthony Stolarz, largely because his situation checks every trade rumor box at once. 

Kypreos noted there is growing belief Stolarz could return before the Olympic break next month, and if he strings together a few solid games, Toronto might explore moving him to a goalie needy team. 

The numbers tell the story of why this is even a conversation: last season he looked like a perfect tandem partner, posting a 2.14 goals against average and .926 save percentage in 34 appearances, but in 2025 to 26 he has struggled through 13 games with a 3.51 GAA and .884 save percentage, then disappeared from the lineup after Nov. 11 due to injury. 

He also carries a $2.5 million cap hit this season, has a 16 team no trade list, and a four year extension worth $3.75 million AAV that begins in July, which makes the timing tricky but not impossible if Toronto finds the right match. 

How the goalie pipeline added fuel to the trade buzz

With Stolarz out, Dennis Hildeby has kept himself in the conversation (.911 SV% & 2.90 GAA), and now Artur Akhtyamov has boosted his stock too after earning an AHL All Star nod with the Toronto Marlies. 

Akhtyamov is 13-7-1 on the season and even made a brief NHL appearance, stopping all five shots he faced in relief, which only adds to the sense that Toronto can afford to listen on a goalie if the return fills a real roster need.

If not Stolarz, Hildeby could also be a nice trade chip the Leafs could use. Even though he might not be ready for a full-blown NHL starting job, Hildeby has definitely shown that he can play and succeed at the NHL level.

None of this guarantees a move, and Kypreos was careful to frame it as leveraging depth, not a must trade. 

Still, if Woll is the best option to ride, and Toronto trusts Hildeby and Akhtyamov as part of the short and long term picture, then Stolarz might be the best way to shop for a needed piece without stripping the skater group. 

The Leafs don't have the luxury of a first-round pick for another two seasons, and they have a very thin prospect pool, so a deal is very tricky to make right now without dealing from their roster.

Photo Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

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