Why the Maple Leafs have an interesting decision looming in net

Hildeby will get the start in Winnipeg against the Jets on Saturday night

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Published Jan 17, 2026  •  Last updated 5 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse (67) shoots the puck against Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Dennis Hildeby (35) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Salt Lake City. Photo by Melissa Majchrzak /AP

An intriguing decision looms for the Maple Leafs.

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That would be in net, where Anthony Stolarz is closing in on a return from an upper-body injury.

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Dennis Hildeby will get the start in Winnipeg against the Jets on Saturday night as the Leafs’ four-game trip comes to an end.

As Stolarz has gone about recovering from a nerve issue since he most recently played on Nov. 11, Hildeby has done his job, posting a .911 save percentage in 17 games, including 12 starts, and going 4-6-4.

Joseph Woll has posted solid numbers, going 11-4-3 with a .914 save percentage in 19 games.

“The game the other night in Utah (a 6-1 Leafs loss), that was more on us as a team than (Hildeby),” Leafs coach Craig Berube told media in Winnipeg on Saturday morning. “I think he was under siege pretty good there and thought he made a lot of really good saves.

“His game has really grown. I think he is building more and more confidence and understanding the league a lot better. I’ve really liked a lot what he has done.”

Berube was asked whether the Leafs have given any thought to keeping three goalies on the roster once Stolarz is back.

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“That’s a good question,” Berube said. “That’s something we will probably discuss at some point. We haven’t yet.

“Hopefully, Stolarz is getting closer and closer, which he is. We will see where he’s at and what we’re going to do.”

Our take:

It’s potentially a good problem to have.

Stolarz, though, will have to get up to speed quickly. Given the tight quarters in the Eastern Conference standings — the Leafs were in ninth place in the conference before games on Saturday, despite going 8-1-3 in their past 12 games — Stolarz will have to be better than he was before he got injured. The Leafs can’t let points slip past if Stolarz doesn’t get back to the exemplary standard he set for himself last season.

Sending Hildeby back to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League is another option, though we note the work that Artur Akhtyamov has done in Hildeby’s absence.

Akhtyamov on Thursday was named to the roster for the 2026 AHL all-star classic in Rockford, Ill., Feb. 10-11.

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In 22 games, Akhtyamov is 14-7-1 with a .898 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average.

Hildeby was in for a good test against a Jets team that has won four in a row and likes to have a heavy presence at the net-front, but there’s no doubt that he has earned the accolades from the coaching staff.

NYLANDER OUT

Not surprisingly, the Leafs leading scorer, William Nylander, won’t play after he aggravated a lower-body injury during the 6-5 overtime loss on Thursday in Vegas against the Golden Knights.

And we would not expect to see Nylander in the lineup on Monday, when the Leafs play host to the Minnesota Wild to kick off a five-game home stand. Berube still couldn’t say how long he expects Nylander to be out of the lineup.

With Nylander on the sideline, Berube said Calle Jarnkrok will draw in.

Connor Hellebuyck gets the start in goal for the Jets. In 23 career games against the Leafs, he has a record of 8-10-3 with a .904 save percentage.

MATTHEWS’ MARCH

Leafs captain Auston Matthews is within shooting distance of moving into fourth place on the franchise scoring list.

Matthews has 765 career points, three short of tying Borje Salming for fourth.

Matthews consistently has produced against the Jets in his career, recording 36 points (17 goals and 19 assists) in 25 games.

Matthews has three points — two goals and one assist — in three games on this trip.

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