Maple Leafs' looming goalie problem could mean Anthony Stolarz trade

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Maple Leafs' looming goalie problem could mean Anthony Stolarz trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Pretty soon, the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to have a goalie logjam.

Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll are already in the NHL. Dennis Hildeby likely will have to be next season. And that could impact trade plans before Friday's deadline.

Would the Leafs make a move now as opposed to the offseason? That's less certain. But it certainly seems worth exploring.

Daily Faceoff's Scott Maxwell analyzed this all in a new article on Tuesday.

"The Leafs have a looming logjam in net next season, with Stolarz and Joseph Woll both locked up for at least two years beyond this one, while Dennis Hildeby is waiver eligible next season and probably won’t make it back to the AHL," Maxwell writes. "Hildeby and Woll have been the better goalies this season and both are younger, so they make more sense for a retooling team to build around."

MORE: Maple Leafs getting help from Flyers to trade veteran center

That seems to make it straightforward, right?

Well, it's still not easy to find a perfect match for Stolarz, and it takes two to trade.

"Stolarz has an extension kicking in next season at four years for $3.75 million per year," Maxwell writes. "Will teams want to take on his contract considering his poor performance this season? Also, would it make sense for the Leafs to sell so low on him considering how good he’s been the past couple seasons? Maybe it’s a move better served for the summer."

There are definitely players who are more likely to be moved by Friday's 3 p.m. ET NHL trade deadline, like soon-to-be unrestricted free agents Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton.

But if there's movement in the goalie market, there's a chance Stolarz ends up involved.

More NHL news:​

• Oilers want 2 positions before the NHL trade deadline
• A salary cap rule may make 2 Flames trades difficult
• Canadiens know trade cost for Robert Thomas
• It'll be complicated to trade for Steven Stamkos
• Alex Ovechkin has shared an update on his retirement plans
• Evgeni Malkin gets big news on a possible future

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