Maple Leafs Goalie Anthony Stolarz Recovers After Scary Puck-to-Throat Incident
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz has made a full recovery after a frightening incident during pre-game warmups where he was struck in the throat by a puck. The netminder's first public words following the injury were to absolve teammate William Nylander, who accidentally fired the shot that caused the injury.
Warmup Accident Leads to Hospital Visit
The incident occurred Saturday in Ottawa when Nylander, the Maple Leafs' leading scorer, took a routine warmup shot that got away from him and struck Stolarz directly under his mask between the neck and collarbone. The goaltender immediately rushed to the dressing room and was later transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
"It came up, it stung and I lost my wind for a second," Stolarz explained Monday after returning to practice. "There was a little swelling and a precautionary hospital trip. It's an occupational hazard. You have pucks coming at you 70-100 mph, they're going to catch you in a bad spot."
The veteran goaltender described initial difficulty breathing and speaking, but noted that "after 40 minutes, it started to come back." Medical examinations at the hospital confirmed no damaged blood vessels or serious injuries.
Quick Forgiveness and Team Support
Nylander was quick to apologize for the accidental shot, as NHL players are trained to avoid vulnerable areas during warmup sessions. Stolarz immediately forgave his teammate, demonstrating the strong bond within the Maple Leafs locker room.
"He told me 'it happens' and I've played around 160 games with Willy," Stolarz said of Nylander. "He always goes to the same spot, at the glove area. I'm sure it will happen again, whether it's him or someone else."
Teammate Auston Matthews offered playful advice, telling Stolarz to "keep your chin tucked in." The 32-year-old goaltender plans to wear a protective plastic 'dangler' to cover his throat area in upcoming games, though he admitted finding the additional equipment somewhat distracting.
Return to Play and Team Updates
Despite the scary incident, Stolarz looked fully recovered during Monday's practice and is available to play in upcoming games. The Maple Leafs have called up Dennis Hildeby on an emergency basis, but Stolarz appears ready to return to action either Tuesday in Boston or during Wednesday's home game against the New York Rangers.
The upcoming Boston game holds particular significance for defenceman Brandon Carlo, who will face his former team. Carlo led Monday's team stretch, preparing for what promises to be an emotional return to Boston. The trade that brought Carlo to Toronto continues to be analyzed, as the Maple Leafs surrendered prospect Fraser Minten and a first-round pick to acquire the defenseman.
Carlo, now a first-line center for Boston, represents what Toronto gave up in the transaction. The Bruins will receive a top-10 pick this year unless the Maple Leafs fall into the NHL's bottom five teams, which would defer the pick to 2027 or 2028.
"Things that are outside of my control I try not to pay too much attention to," Carlo said about the ongoing trade discussion. "I'm trying to bring my best every night. If you're going to be in the NHL environment there will be a lot of things you have to tune out."
General Manager Brad Treliving initially viewed Carlo's playoff experience as worth the high trade cost, though the deal appears increasingly lopsided as Minten develops into a key player for Boston.
The Maple Leafs organization and fans breathed a collective sigh of relief as Stolarz recovered without serious injury, allowing the team to focus on their playoff push with their goaltending depth intact.
