Maple Leafs pocket book: Why Anthony Stolarz signed; Berube suggestions opening lineup

TORONTO — Sorry, Nick Robertson.

Apologies, Calle Järnkrok.

Stay affected person, Michael Pezzetta.

Condolences, David Kämpf.

Only 12 forwards can gown for the Toronto Maple Leafs on opening night time, and it certain appears like the child has grabbed the final seat on the bus.

High-scoring junior star Easton Cowan’s swift means to reimagine himself as a fourth-liner — and mesh with fellow OHL alumni Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton — has the 20-year-old on observe to make the lower and knock a quartet of veterans out of subsequent week’s beginning lineup.

“Cowan has come in and done a really good job of fighting for a spot — and so have our other guys,” says Leafs coach Craig Berube, who has struggled to disguise his affinity for Cowan’s competitiveness. “There’s nobody that we’re disappointed in. It’s just decisions that we’re going to have to make: What’s the best fit for our team and what gives us the best opportunity to win games?”

Third camp’s the allure.

Unlike Kämpf, who is simply seen as a 4C, or Robertson, whose greatest weapons requires power-play time and O-zone shifts, Cowan views himself as a grinding, expert winger who can contribute on each particular groups and on any line.

The 20-year-old is fast to notice he cracked the London Knights in 2022 as a bottom-sixer earlier than growing right into a Memorial Cup MVP. He made that pitch to Berube: Start me on Line 4. Let me earn my promotions. 

“It’s something you could do here as well,” Cowan says. “Start in the bottom six and you can always work your way up. Whether I’m in the bottom six or top six, I can bring something to the table, whether that’s finishing checks, power play, penalty kill. I’m a good overall player and can play anywhere in the lineup.”

The Leafs are urging the artful playmaker to not overreach, to play a easy and secure type. Chip, chase, examine.

“Just stay consistent in what you’re doing,” Berube advises. “I get it. He’s used to scoring and making performs and getting factors. That doesn’t all the time occur straight away. It takes time for that to occur. And I’m not too apprehensive about that. I’m extra targeted on the kind of sport he is taking part in. He’s doing a superb job for us proper now.

“You don’t want him to get too comfortable and try things that will hurt him more than help him.”

The Maple Leafs’ core NHL group practised in full for the primary time Monday earlier than heading to Muskoka for some workforce bonding, golf, plus a group observe in Bracebridge, Ont.

Toronto continues to be carrying the 4 aforementioned further forwards, plus depth D-men Philippe Myers, Henry Thrun, and Dakota Mermis. Berube joked that the workforce is “still a little big,” whereas rolling out his projected opening night time roster:

Knies – Matthews – Domi

McMann – Tavares – Nylander 

Joshua – Roy – Maccelli

Lorentz – Laughton – Cowan

A shock damage or commerce may nonetheless have an effect on the panorama, however anticipate this group to decorate for Thursday’s rehearsal versus the Detroit Red Wings, then relaxation up for Oct. 8’s house opener.

It’s a testomony to Cowan’s angle and flexibility that he’s on observe for his long-awaited NHL debut.

“You can see the confidence has always been there. He’s a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger. The pace doesn’t really affect him. Like, he’s keeping up with the pace really well,” Leafs captain Auston Matthews says. “He’s the form of participant that may sluggish the sport down and pace it up when he has to. And when he’s on the ice and he has the puck on his stick, he could make lots occur, and he can do plenty of various things to regulate the sport.

“It’s been a lot of fun to see him progress over the last three years, from when he was first drafted to where he is at now. And his ceiling is going to continue to grow.”

How refreshing for Toronto followers this have to be, to be taught that No. 1 goalie Anthony Stolarz re-signed for 4 years and a cap-friendly $15 million partly as a result of he will get acknowledged when he goes out to dinner and strolls the town’s streets.

“One of the reasons I stayed is the passion of the fan base,” says a Stolarz beaming Monday morning, the ink on his longest and richest contract not but dry for twenty-four hours.

“It’s fairly particular to look out within the stands and see individuals along with your jersey on. You know, I believed coming in final yr I used to be kinda the man that was within the background a little bit bit. Looking up and with the ability to see ‘Stolarz’ jerseys and all the children that had indicators, it actually makes you suppose again to after I was a child going to New Jersey Devils practices and watching Martin Brodeur. 

“Their loyalty and passion towards us is obviously a huge part in all this. And I’m looking forward to giving back.”

The greatest manner for Stolarz to offer again is solely to remain wholesome and constant over the tenure of his deal, which expires in 2030. He’ll be 36. 

Wielding extra leverage than ever in his profession, what with a spiking cap and a weak UFA 2026 goalie class, Stolarz may have performed out his contract season.

Another efficiency within the ballpark of 2024-25’s 21-win, .926-save-percentage breakout and Stolarz definitely may have commanded a better AAV than the $3.75 million he agreed to Sunday, in session along with his household and agent Allain Roy.

“You obviously have those thoughts,” he says. “But, at the end of the day, this is where I wanted to be. Last summer, this organization showed a lot of faith in me to sign me into a two-year contract. And everything has been first class, and I’ve really enjoyed my stay here. So, for me, if something could be worked out where I could stay long term and be a part of this group, I thought it was a win-win.”

Monday’s skate started with joyful stick-taps for the goaltender’s frontload payday and concluded with Matthews nudging Stolarz into centre ice to guide the workforce’s stretch circle.

“He’s the ultimate competitor,” Matthew says. “He’s the guy you go out there and block shots, do whatever it takes to make his job a little bit easier. Definitely a guy that you really appreciate and want in your corner at all times.”

Though amicable, Stolarz’s extension negotiation was a grinding one which started in early August and didn’t wrap till a little bit greater than every week earlier than the goalie’s comfortable deadline. 

His case is exclusive: stellar stats however by no means a full starter’s workload.

It provides the participant peace of thoughts: regular employment, quick commerce safety, and frontloaded cash. 

It provides the Leafs, arguably, the very best bang-for-your-buck tandem in Stolarz and Joseph Woll ($7.42 million complete in 2026-27 and 2027-28) and expires when, Leafs administration hopes, prospects Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov are prepared for prime time.

“The number is a good number for us and gives Anthony some security, so happy to get it done,” Treliving says.

“He hasn’t played a 50-game season. But we’re set up that you don’t necessarily need to have that, right? And we think the depth we have at the position allows us to get good goaltending every night.”

Business achieved, Stolarz ought to sleep properly each night time main as much as subsequent Wednesday, when he’ll look up within the stands and doubtless see a couple of extra followers rocking their No. 41 threads.

“It makes you feel wanted. And I’m looking forward to getting the season started here with the guys and just being a part of the core and being part of a group that is committed to winning,” Stolarz says of the deal.

“It’s huge. That’s why you play the game. You want to feel secure, and you want to feel wanted in your city and be able to have your family there long-term. It’s gonna be nice to go home and leave things here now. So, it’s exciting for sure. I wanted to make this work from the beginning, so I’m excited we got it done.”

One-Timers: Bobby McMann and Kämpf returned to the ice after lacking Saturday’s observe due to upkeep. … Simon Benoit (higher physique) continues to be sporting a crimson, no-contact sweater however certain appears like a man who might be prepared for opening night time. … James Reimer (PTO) didn’t observe with the principle group nor journey to Muskoka on the Leafs’ workforce bonding tour. He’ll keep in Toronto, stand up to hurry by taking pictures in Marlies observe. … Berube on the hockey mentality of Blue Jays outfielder George Springer: “He loved it. He said, ‘I wanted to play hockey.’ Back in Connecticut, he played as a young kid, and he just loved running over guys. He probably would’ve been a good player for us. We like those type of guys.”