Prove people wrong.
It’s the saying that Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz has had painted on the back of his goalie mask for the past seven or eight years.
If there were any doubters in Stolarz when the Leafs signed him to a two-year contract in free agency this past off-season, they have to be impressed with what the 30-year-old has accomplished in his first month with Toronto.
Not only has Stolarz compiled a 5-2-2 record through nine games, his .928 save percentage was fourth among National Hockey League goalies prior to games on Thursday and his 2.12 goals-against average was third.
The notion that it’s a small sample size loses steam with each game that Stolarz plays.
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“He’s just a really good goalie that you like to see have success and get recognition,” said Leafs forward Max Pacioretty, who often shares a ride to the rink with Stolarz. “He’s so big in there, so calm in there, calm when he’s off the ice as well. All the characteristics of a really good goaltender. It’s nice to see him get rewarded, because he has the right mindset with everything.”
The pool of goalies available in free agency in July wasn’t overly deep, but what mattered most to the Leafs was that they got it right with the netminder they wanted most. Asking for an injury-free season on the part of Joseph Woll might have been too much for the hockey gods to handle and, sure enough, Woll was hurt before the season even started.
While Woll worked his way back from groin tightness, Stolarz not only kept opponents at bay, he took the net over.
The expectation when the Detroit Red Wings visit Scotiabank Arena for the annual Hockey Hall of Fame game on Friday is that Stolarz will make his third consecutive start.
After Stolarz shut out the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, it would make little sense for Leafs coach Craig Berube to overthink anything and put Woll in net on Friday. Woll, in turn, would get the start on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens as the Leafs complete the first of their two back-to-back home sets this season.
Fact is, the play of Stolarz is a snapshot of what the newcomers to the Leafs have provided. All of Stolarz, defencemen Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forwards Steven Lorentz and Pacioretty in the early going have made general manager Brad Treliving look pretty smart regarding his off-season decisions.
Each player has made a positive impact as the Leafs have adjusted to Berube’s system and remain in the top three in the Atlantic Division while doing so.
“He’s been incredible, a great guy off the ice and gets along with everyone, friendly guy, easy to talk to,” Tanev said in getting to know Stolarz. “That goes a long way.
“I just think it’s a good group (overall). When guys are extremely friendly and welcoming and make you feel comfortable, it helps a lot. You never know what’s going to happen coming into a new team, how you’re going to fit in. It has been good.”
A big sports fan growing up in New Jersey, specifically of the New York Mets, Brooklyn Nets and New York Giants, Stolarz has drawn inspiration from his favourite athlete — Mets veteran outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who is known for his work ethic.
Back to that saying on mask of Stolarz. He works with David Gunnarsson, the Swedish artist who creates goalie mask designs under the name DaveArt.
“It’s just something that I thought would be pretty cool to have on my mask,” Stolarz said. “There is always going to be people who doubt you and it has been like that for everybody. People won’t want us to succeed and it’s up to you to battle through that and that adversity and come out on top.”
Stolarz accomplished that last spring in a backup role to Sergei Bobrovsky in the Florida Panthers’ run to a Stanley Cup.
In 2024-25, Stolarz would love nothing more than to hoist the Cup with the Leafs.
To this point, Stolarz is more than holding up his end.
X: @koshtorontosun