Maple Leafs goalie options: Toronto began camp braced for a 1A/1B split in the crease. Then came a curveball: Joseph Woll stepped away on personal leave, with no fixed timeline publicly known. That leaves Anthony Stolarz in the spotlight and 6-foot-7 Dennis Hildeby learning on the fly. On paper, that tandem can hold for a while. In reality, leaning hard on Stolarz, who has a history of missed time, would be a gamble.
The entire season’s rhythm—special teams, shot suppression confidence, and Sheldon Keefe’s matchup planning—depends on trust in the last line of defence. A smart, low-risk reinforcement keeps Toronto’s ceiling intact while honoring Woll’s time away.
| Player | Current Status | 2024–25 Snapshot | Contract/Cap Note | Why He Fits Toronto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connor Ingram | Trade candidate from Utah Mammoth | Masterton winner; starter experience | ~$1.95M AAV, final year | Cost-controlled upgrade with upside |
| Ilya Samsonov | Unsigned UFA | 200+ NHL GP; proved as a tandem option | Short, incentive-laden deal possible | Familiar system, true backup profile |
| James Reimer | Unsigned UFA | 10+ years of steady service | Likely league-minimum range | Veteran safety net and mentor |
Why This Matters In October, Not January
Goaltending is rhythm. Teams that wait until December to fix depth can bleed standings points they never earn back. The Leafs’ core is built for now, not later. A modest cap outlay for a proven glove as insurance could be the difference between chasing the Atlantic all year or dictating terms by November. That is why three names—Connor Ingram, Ilya Samsonov, and James Reimer—rise to the top of the Leafs goalie options conversation right away.
Option 1: Connor Ingram — A Trade That Balances Today And Tomorrow
Connor Ingram checks boxes the Leafs front office loves. He’s 27, athletic, and has recently logged true starter workloads. He’s also on a tidy cap hit for one more season, which aligns with Toronto’s window and the need to preserve flexibility for the deadline. Utah has signaled they’re open for business, and that matters because Toronto doesn’t have to overpay for a mirage; they can negotiate from a position of clarity.
On the ice, Ingram’s game suits the Leafs’ structure. He tracks through traffic, doesn’t overslide, and handles back-door chaos better than most mid-tier starters. Put that behind Toronto’s improved slot protection and it looks even better. Off the ice, he brings resilience and a growth curve that hasn’t flattened, which is valuable when the plan is to share the net with Stolarz and to insulate Hildeby, not block him.
From a cap standpoint, Ingram’s sub-$2 million hit is digestible. Toronto can create the space by moving a mid-roster forward or by using LTIR/accumulation tactics, but the cleanest path is a hockey trade that swaps a depth salary for the crease upgrade. Think of it as buying certainty at a fair price.
What A Deal Might Look Like
A plausible frame is roster player for roster player with minor futures dressing the edges. For Toronto, dealing from their middle-six surplus to solve a high-leverage need is good asset hygiene. For Utah, it’s immediate lineup utility and a reset around their own crease plans. The Leafs goalie options board ranks Ingram first because he upgrades the present without mortgaging the spring.
Risk Profile: Why Ingram Isn’t A Silver Bullet
Every goalie comes with variance. Ingram has stretches where rebounds sit a half-step longer than you’d like, especially on low-pad shots off the rush. The Leafs’ weak-side winger detail needs to be sharp to sweep those pucks. But that’s a coachable, system-level adjustment. In exchange, you get a goalie comfortable with starter minutes if Stolarz needs a breather and sturdy enough to make Hildeby’s ramp gradual, not desperate.
Option 2: Ilya Samsonov — The Familiar Fit Who’s Better As A 1B
The relationship history in Toronto is complicated, but the profile is clear. In a tandem, with controlled starts and a defined role, Ilya Samsonov delivers NHL-average or a tick better performance. As a pure workhorse, the results slide. That’s why the current Leafs construction—Stolarz as the 1A, a measured workload, and a stout five-on-five defensive environment—might be the best possible context if you bring Samsonov back on a short, bonus-laden deal.
Samsonov’s strengths mesh with where Toronto limits chances. He handles first shots well when lanes are clear and the team keeps seam passes to a minimum. With routine starts and less pressure to “steal” nights, his athleticism shows without the overchasing that creeps in during heavy workloads. For a front office mindful of term and dollars, this is a low-commitment swing that preserves deadline flexibility and doesn’t clog the pipeline when Woll returns.
Why It Could Work Emotionally, Too
Fans remember playoffs. Goalies feel that. A fresh chapter, with expectations calibrated and a crease shared, may bring out Samsonov’s best. Club and player both understand the fit and the boundaries. That often shortens the adjustment curve, valuable in October when every point counts just as much as March.
Risk Profile: The Variance You Know
There will be nights where pucks leak under traffic or second chances linger. That’s the trade-off with a 1B. Toronto can mitigate this with start selection—heavier forecheck opponents for Stolarz, lower-event matchups for Samsonov—and with a sharper net-front box-out plan. You accept some variance because the cost is friendly and the familiarity is priceless.
Option 3: James Reimer — Veteran Insurance With The Right Personality For Toronto
James Reimer’s tape is a lesson in economy. He’s seen every NHL read, tracks pucks patiently, and rarely beats himself. At this stage, he isn’t a volume starter, but as an “in case of emergency” backstop who can give you competent, composed hockey for a month, he fits. The price point is likely near the minimum, which keeps assets in the drawer and the cap sheet tidy.
The sentimental storyline—Reimer returning to Toronto—isn’t the reason to do it. The reason is stability. Coaches love knowing the floor. Reimer brings a professional routine and the type of calm that steadies a bench after a bad bounce. For Hildeby, practicing daily with a veteran who manages his game so precisely is a living clinic in pro habits. For the Leafs, it’s the simplest version of insurance: sign, register, deploy as needed.
Risk Profile: Limited Ceiling, But A Predictable Floor
Reimer won’t single-handedly tilt a playoff series in 2026, and that’s not the assignment. The concern is speed through the slot and high tips; Toronto’s defense must continue clearing sticks and reducing east-west across the royal road. If they do, Reimer turns medium danger into routine saves and buys the team vital breathing room until Woll is ready.
Internal Option: What About Dennis Hildeby?
Hildeby is intriguing. The size is real and the stance is quiet. The Leafs would love to give him NHL looks in controlled doses, not baptism by fire. That’s why adding one of the three veterans above still benefits his development. Hildeby can start against scheduling soft spots, work with the goalie department on post integration and puckplay, and build confidence without the burden of nightly results. With smart usage, you protect the present and grow the future.
Cap Mechanics And Roster Chess
Toronto’s path of least resistance is the UFA route. One-year, bonus-sprinkled deals for Samsonov or Reimer protect flexibility. If the Leafs go the Ingram route, they’ll pursue a hockey trade to avoid mortgaging draft capital. Either way, the mantra is the same: preserve optionality for March while solving a September problem. This is how contenders behave in a hard-cap league.
Goalie Fit With Stolarz As The 1A
Stolarz thrives when starts are planned and the team’s slot defense is crisp. Pairing him with Ingram tilts toward a true 1A/1B split, which helps manage workloads. Pairing him with Samsonov is a lighter timeshare with hot-hand room. Pairing him with Reimer is a classic 1A/backup model that keeps practice reps clean and the calendar predictable. All three versions stabilize the room, keep Hildeby on track, and buy Woll time.
The Intangibles: Dressing Room And Daily Pace
Goalies set the tone in the first five minutes of practice. Ingram’s energy is upbeat, which can sharpen shooters. Samsonov’s athletic edge nudges the pace of rush drills. Reimer’s meticulous warm-ups settle the group and teach young skaters what “a pro day” looks like. In a market like Toronto—lights bright, mics always on—those small, steadying forces matter.
What Toronto Should Do
If the ask is clean and the price is sane, trade for Ingram. He offers the highest blend of present performance and medium-term value, and his cap number is a perfect fit. If Utah’s price climbs beyond reason, pivot to Samsonov on a low-risk, short-term pact, where role clarity and familiarity can smooth the runway. If the market goes sideways or Woll’s timeline suggests shorter-term coverage, sign Reimer and move on with a stable plan. Each path is rational. One just raises the team’s ceiling more than the others.
The Bottom Line
This is about protecting a contender’s margin for error. The Leafs goalie options outlined here aren’t splashy headline plays. They’re adult decisions that respect the room, the cap, and Woll’s situation. Add one experienced hand, keep Stolarz in the rhythm he’s built, and let Hildeby climb at the right pace. That’s how you make sure a tough week in September doesn’t define your April.
FAQs
What is the best realistic option for the Leafs right now?
The most complete answer is a measured trade for Connor Ingram. It balances cost, cap hit, and performance while giving Toronto a goalie who can handle more than spot duty if needed. If that price inflates, an inexpensive reunion with Ilya Samsonov is a sensible fallback, and James Reimer is the safest short-term insurance.
Would signing a UFA block Joseph Woll’s return?
No. One-year, low-cap UFA deals are easy to park, waive, or trade later. They’re bridges, not roadblocks. The goal is to stabilize the now and stay nimble when Woll is ready.
How does this affect Dennis Hildeby’s development?
Positively. A veteran partner turns spot starts into learning opportunities rather than survival nights. Hildeby can focus on technical growth and confidence while Toronto protects game states.
Can the Leafs squeeze this under the cap without major surgery?
Yes. A UFA signing for Samsonov or Reimer would fit with minor paper moves. An Ingram deal likely pairs a modest outgoing salary with futures, keeping the cap sheet balanced and the deadline powder dry.
Why not simply ride Anthony Stolarz until Woll returns?
You could, but it invites risk. Stolarz’s best hockey comes with planned rest and a reliable partner. A prudent addition preserves performance and avoids overburdening him in the season’s first months.
