"Joseph Woll took a leave of absence due to personal issues before the season began, and Stolarz couldn't handle being a full-time starting goalie. This ultimately led to Stolarz getting injured. When Joseph Woll returned to the Leafs' lineup, he had played exceptionally well. Woll later dealt with another injury. The Maple Leafs were in a pickle, but to everyone's surprise, Denis Hildeby has become a very good NHL netminder for the Maple Leafs, and the biggest surprise of the season."
"Since the beginning of the season, Hildeby has had to step up numerous times, whether that was Stolarz's injury or rough play, Woll's personal leave and injuries, Hildeby has always answered the call. Hildeby has been with the Maple Leafs organization since the 2022-23 season. He has been a mainstay and the Toronto Marlies' starting goalie for many years. He never got his shot to play with the NHL club due to tandems and the amount of depth the Leafs would have within goaltending."
The Toronto Maple Leafs fell from a divisional title to missing the playoff picture halfway through the season. Goaltending turmoil defined the early campaign: Joseph Woll took a pre-season leave for personal reasons, Anthony Stolarz struggled as a full-time starter and later suffered an injury, and Woll encountered further injuries upon return. Denis Hildeby seized repeated opportunities, rising from years in the AHL as the Toronto Marlies' starter to supplant several depth goalies. Hildeby posted markedly improved performance compared with last season's .878 save percentage and 3.33 GAA, transforming into a reliable NHL netminder and the season's biggest surprise.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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