Should Maple Leafs Trade Joseph Woll or Anthony Stolarz?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a summer of decisions that will alter the franchise’s course, including whether to trade Joseph Woll or Anthony Stolarz. 

Neither goaltender has made himself indispensable to the organization, but who offers the best path forward for the team’s new management?

Who Should the Maple Leafs Trade: Anthony Stolarz or Joseph Woll?  

Both have endured a rash of recent injuries, with Woll suffering six ailments of various lengths since entering the league in 2021-22. 

He hasn’t played more than 42 games, making his durability a disconcerting and persistent concern as John Chayka and Mats Sundin try to turn the Maple Leafs into contenders.  

Unfortunately, Stolarz’s injury luck hasn’t been any better. He has suffered five setbacks since arriving in Toronto in 2024. 

Stolarz, Woll’s Maple Leafs’ Contracts

The goaltenders’ similarities extend to their contracts: Woll earns $3.66 million per year, and Stolarz earns $3.75 million. 

Woll is signed until the end of the 2028 season, while Stolarz is under contract until the end of the 2030 season. 

Stolarz’s length of term will likely be more appealing to potential suitors, as they probably wouldn’t have to renegotiate for a few seasons. With Woll, that issue would be front and centre in any trade.

How Do Stolarz and Woll’s Performances Compare? 

Stolarz and Woll were at their best in 2024-25, forming a formidable tandem that elevated the team among the Stanley Cup odds favourites at the BetMGM sportsbook.

Stolarz won the starting job, finishing with a sparkling 21-8-3 record. He had the best save percentage (.926) of those with at least 30 starts, the third-best goals-against average (2.14), and the fourth-best goals saved above expected (25.8). 

He extended that sensational form into the playoffs, steering the Maple Leafs past the Ottawa Senators and into the second round. 

That’s where disaster struck, with Stolarz suffering a playoff-ending head injury in Game 1 against the Florida Panthers. 

His elite play created a buzz among Maple Leafs fans that they had not experienced in years. Unfortunately, it wasn’t over a large sample size. Stolarz played poorly to start the 2025-26 season before a lower-body injury kept him out of the lineup for over two months. 

Woll’s proficient 2024-25 campaign saw him make a career high in starts (41) and finish with a 2.73 GAA and 0.909 save percentage. 

However, he wasn’t able to elevate his level after replacing Stolarz in the playoffs, finishing 3-4 with a 3.56 GAA and .886 save percentage. 

While Woll might have a higher ceiling, we haven’t seen it yet. That brings me to the discernible advantage he has over his partner in crime.  

How Will Winning the Draft Lottery Impact the Maple Leafs’ Goaltender Decision? 

Much of whether the Maple Leafs enter rebuild mode or attempt to immediately push forward in their quest to end the Stanley Cup drought will be predicated on the course of Auston Matthews’ future. 

Regardless of the franchise’s immediate trajectory, retaining Woll and offloading Stolarz is the better move. Despite the injury-riddled start to his career, 27-year-old Woll is still in the early stages of his prime. 

The same cannot be said for the 32-year-old Stolarz, who, if the Maple Leafs make the decision I expect, should be among the goalies the Edmonton Oilers target.