Anthony Stolarz wants to return the Passion after signing 4-year extension with Maple Leafs

Anthony Stolarz signed a four-year extension worth $15 million on Sunday with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the 31-year-old can’t wait to return The Passion back to the fanbase.

Stolarz emerged as one of the NHL’s best goaltenders last season, recording a .926 save percentage during the regular season in 34 games with a 21-8-3 record. Although the 31-year-old battled through knee injuries last season, Stolarz’s outstanding form when healthy was enough to cement his place as a long-term pillar of the franchise.

“It’s pretty special to be able to look out into the stands and see people with your jersey on,” Stolarz said Monday via Nick Barden of The Hockey News. “I kind of thought coming into last year, I was a guy in the background, a little bit. And just looking up and being able to see Stolarz jerseys and all the kids that had signs, it really makes you think back to when I was a kid, going to New Jersey Devils practices and watching Martin Brodeur. I think just the loyalty and passion towards us is a huge part in all of us, and I’m looking forward to giving it back.”

It’s a terrific deal for the Maple Leafs, as Stolarz almost certainly could’ve commanded a more lucrative deal, and it’s another example of the culture shifting under general manager Brad Treliving’s supervision. Treliving stated at the start of training camp that getting Stolarz’s extension completed was a top priority, and the goaltender said he did not want to discuss his contract once the season began. With the salary cap rising throughout the next three seasons, Stolarz’s contract will provide excellent return on value for the Maple Leafs, currently positioned as the 26th-greatest cap hit of any goaltender.

Stolarz will almost certainly feature as Toronto’s opening night starter when it hosts the Montreal Canadiens on October 8. Loyalty goes a long way in Toronto, and it’s more than possible that he’ll receive a standing ovation, along with John Tavares and Matthew Knies, all of whom reached team-friendly deals with the Maple Leafs over the summer.