The Toronto Maple Leafs moved one step closer to restoring their goaltending depth this week, as Anthony Stolarz officially entered the ultimate phase of his recovery from a lengthy injury absence.
The organization confirmed on Tuesday that Stolarz has been loaned to the Toronto Marlies on a conditioning task, signaling that the veteran netminder is nearing a full return to game motion.
“G Anthony Stolarz has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL) on a conditioning loan.” Leafs PR posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Conditioning stints are typically reserved for players who’re medically cleared but need live-game reps before rejoining the NHL lineup. Stolarz has been sidelined since Nov. 11, when he exited a loss to the Boston Bruins after the primary period with what was initially described as an upper-body injury.
The 31-year-old later revealed the problem was nerve-related, a complication that required time and patience relatively than aggressive treatment. Despite the prolonged absence, Stolarz continued skating and participating in full practices, laying the groundwork for this next step. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube emphasized that game motion is the ultimate checkpoint in Stolarz’s recovery process.
“Just full practices and plenty of various kinds of work and shots — that’s necessary for him to get that in before he’s able to go. I don’t have a timeline on [how long he will probably be within the AHL),” said coach Berube, via NHL.com.
The Marlies task allows Stolarz to rebuild timing and luxury without the pressure of NHL competition. If all the pieces goes as planned, the goaltender could return before the Olympic break, depending on how his body responds to live motion.
Before the injury, Stolarz appeared in 13 games for Toronto, posting a 6-5-1 record. While his early-season numbers were uneven, the Leafs showed long-term confidence by signing him to a two-year extension last summer, keeping him under contract through 2027-28.
In his absence, Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby have stabilized the crease and helped Toronto climb right into a playoff position. With eight games remaining before the February break, the Leafs now face a positive problem — deciding when the timing is true to reintegrate a healthy, motivated Stolarz as they appear ahead to the stretch run of the season.