Maple Leafs sign Dennis Hildeby to three-year contract extension

The first two years of the contract will be two-way deals, with the third year, 2027-28, becoming a one-year contract. The deal carries an NHL AAV of $841,667. Hildeby is coming off the final year of his three-year, entry-level contract that he signed when Kyle Dubas was the general manager in July 2022. That deal had an NHL cap hit of $843,333.

In his first two full seasons with the organization, which were mainly spent with the Maple Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, Hildeby has shown that he has the potential to be an NHL backstop. The 6-foot-7 goaltender had a solid season in 2023-24, going 21-11-7 with a .913 save percentage, finishing sixth in the AHL in goals-against average (2.41) and tied for fifth in shutouts (4).

Hildeby’s numbers took a slight dip this past season with the Marlies, going 16-9-7 in 30 games, with a 2.55 GAA, a .908 SV% and two shutouts. However, the Swedish netminder received his first bit of NHL experience. With Joseph Woll out to start the season, Hildeby made his NHL debut on Oct. 10, making 23 saves in a win against the New Jersey Devils. The 24-year-old went on to start six games for the Leafs, going 3-3-0 with 3.33 GAA and .878 SV%.

In 73 AHL regular-season games, Hildeby has a record of 37-21-14 with a 2.53 GAA, a .909 SV% and six shutouts.

Hildeby was originally taken by the Leafs in the fourth round, 122nd overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft.