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NHL Analyst Identifies Maple Leafs 'Luxury' at Critical Position

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jul 18, 2025 8:40 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the NHL’s Olympic schedule in 2025–26.

With just five games in February—and none between Feb. 4 and Feb. 24—due to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, NHL insider Mike Johnson appeared on TSN's "First Up" on Thursday to say that the Leafs’ two-goalie rotation may become a clear advantage.

The Leafs should split starts between Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz. Last season, Stolarz appeared in 34 games and posted a .926 save percentage and four shutouts. Woll won 27 games in 42 appearances with a .909 save percentage.

Each netminder missed time due to injuries, but both showed they can handle starter workloads. Now, with a condensed January (16 games) and March (15 games), Johnson believes the split could keep both players sharp.

Hour 3 of First Up with @mcauz56 & @dfeschuk:

- @mike_p_johnson on the compressed nature of the Leafs schedule, the importance of Woll & Stolarz with so many back to backs #LeafsForever

- Genie Bouchard to retire after the NBO

- We do some blind rankings…
— First Up (@FirstUp1050) July 17, 2025

"Never more important," Johnson said about having a strong goaltender rotation. "We already know the goalies don’t want to play more than what, 55 games, right? So the fact that the Leafs — I’ll bet, again, if everyone stays healthy and everyone’s able to play all the time — it would not surprise me at the end of the year if it’s almost 41–41.

"If you can do that, and they both are good, what a luxury," Johnson said. "We got one A, one B. I don’t know who’s who, but we got two starters."

In Johnson's eyes, the Leafs will have an internal competition between the pipes, and he expects that fight for starts to rise late in the season.

“These guys will want the No. 1 job at some point this season, down the stretch,” Johnson said. "But if they're both healthy, playing well... you'll hope, if you're the Leafs, that they maintain that very positive, healthy, competitive relationship, but supportive relationship."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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