Maple Leafs return Dennis Hildeby to AHL’s Toronto Marlies

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby has been returned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, the team confirmed Sunday.

Hildeby was called up an hour before Saturday’s contest against the Buffalo Sabres to serve as Cayden Primeau’s backup, while Anthony Stolarz received the night off. Stolarz started seven of the Maple Leafs’ first nine games, taking on the majority of the workload, as Joseph Woll returned to the team this week from a personal leave of absence.

Primeau won his second start with the Maple Leafs, as the team held on a 4-3 victory over the Sabres.

Hildeby signed a three-year extension with the Maple Leafs on September 2, worth $841,667 annually. It’s a two-way contract through the 2026-27 season, before converting to a one-year deal for the 2027-28 campaign, giving Hildeby time to grow into the eventual starter the Maple Leafs project him to be.

The 24-year-old is off to an excellent start with the Marlies, winning both of his starts while posting a .962 save percentage and 0.97 goals against average. Hildeby posted a 3-3-0 record with an .878 save percentage in six games with the Maple Leafs last season.

“It was kind of a rollercoaster of a season, a little up and down there,” Hildeby said of his 2024-25 campaign after signing his extension. “There was a lot of new stuff I tried to implement into my game that maybe didn’t work out at first. Tried a lot of new stuff and figured out my game more. This season is more about getting back to taking all this new stuff and make it come together in a way that works for me.”

It’s unclear if Hildeby will get into a game, as the Maple Leafs host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. Stolarz and Cayden Primeau both ought to be available, but Hildeby is capable of playing at the NHL level when called upon, as the Maple Leafs continue to fight through a string of injuries across the board.

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