Nick Kypreos Sends Maple Leafs Warning on Anthony Stolarz's Contract Extension

Stolarz's deadline has placed added pressure on general manager Brad Treliving, and that pressure was heightened by Tuesday's news of goalie Joseph Woll taking a leave of absence with an undetermined return timeline.

According to The Athletic's Chris Johnston, citing league sources, Stolarz is “unwilling” to negotiate once the season is underway. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, meanwhile, reported on Monday that discussions have narrowed after starting far apart.

“I think Stolarz and the Leafs are going back-and-forth and back-and-forth,” Friedman said. “It seems to me this is likely to be three or four years. We’re looking at somewhere between $4.5 million and $5 million.”

On Tuesday, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos discussed the situation on the "Kyper & Bourne Show," cautioning Toronto against committing to too much term given Stolarz’s track record.

“For me, I get that it’s not a great market out there for goalies and it puts a ton of stress on the Maple Leafs,” Kypreos said. “But this is a guy who had a great season last year but still is within his window of looking like a very good, solid backup. There is no look of a starting goalie.”

Kypreos added he would consider three years at $5 million annually as his top offer, with the chance for a bigger payday later if Stolarz proves capable of handling a 45-to-50 game workload.

“Starting goalies play 45 or 50 games. Not 30. He just… he is still in his window of being a 30-plus kind of guy. If you’re going to pay him $5 million (per season), is this the year he jumps to start 50 games in his career? Would you offer him four (years) at $3M? $4.25M for three?” Kypreos said. “Even if he gets overpaid, $4.5M... I’d go $5M. I can live with $5M for three.

“Or if I’m Brad Treliving, I'd say, 'Okay, Stolarz, bet on yourself. I’m offering you $5 (million annually) for three (years). If you can put together between 45, 50, 53 games, and it's looking good, I'll bump you to $7.5 or $8 million per year (after that).”

Stolarz is entering the final year of a two-year, $5 million contract. Before arriving in Toronto, the netminder bounced around the league playing for four different teams throughout his first 10 seasons in the NHL.