Sergei Bobrovsky’s first night in a Maple Leafs sweater ended with a 4-1 preseason loss to the Montreal Canadiens, but the larger picture was clear around Scotiabank Arena: Toronto has handed its crease to one of the League’s most accomplished veteran goaltenders. Auston Matthews, who has spent plenty of shifts trying to beat Bobrovsky, is glad those days are behind him.
Key takeaways
- Bobrovsky stopped 10 of 11 shots in his Toronto preseason debut before Anthony Stolarz took over midway through the second period.
- The 38-year-old joined the Maple Leafs on a three-year, $21 million deal after seven seasons with the Florida Panthers.
- Matthews called having Bobrovsky as a teammate “an absolute treat” and praised the goalie’s preparation and professionalism.
- Toronto will send split squads against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday before opening the regular season at home versus Montreal on Sept. 29.
- Bobrovsky and Stolarz are reunited after sharing Florida’s crease during the Panthers’ 2023-24 championship run.
A new crease leader in Toronto
Bobrovsky arrived in Toronto on July 1 as an unrestricted free agent, bringing two Vezina Trophies, won in 2013 and 2017, and consecutive Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025. The Maple Leafs are counting on that experience after finishing at the bottom of the Atlantic Division and 15th in the Eastern Conference last season, missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“It is another opportunity,” Bobrovsky said. “That is the hockey life. I am excited to be here, excited to be part of this group. You take it one moment at a time.”
The veteran is closing in on major career milestones. His 456 NHL victories rank seventh among goaltenders, leaving him four short of Henrik Lundqvist and 34 behind Roberto Luongo for fourth place. Bobrovsky has appeared in 806 regular-season games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Panthers, ranking 17th all-time at the position.
Matthews has firsthand experience with how difficult Bobrovsky can be to solve. When the Panthers eliminated Toronto in five games during the 2023 second round, Bobrovsky posted a .943 save percentage and surrendered only 10 goals in the series.
Now the Leafs captain sees the other side of that equation. Matthews said he was energized when Toronto signed Bobrovsky, pointing to the goaltender’s stories, reputation, conditioning and concentration. “I could not be happier to have him on our side,” Matthews said.
Bobrovsky is also looking for a sharper season after a difficult final campaign in Florida. He went 27-23-1 with a 3.07 goals-against average and an .877 save percentage as the injury-hit Panthers failed to reach the postseason.
First preseason work and what comes next
Montreal’s only goal against Bobrovsky came 51 seconds into the second period. Zachary Bolduc carried the puck on a 2-on-1 and slipped it around Emil Andrae, who had pursued him. Phillip Danault received it at the edge of the crease, pulled to the right side and lifted a shot over Bobrovsky’s glove from near the goal line.
Bobrovsky left the game at 8:44 of the second period, with Stolarz replacing him. Toronto coach Jim Hiller said the plan was to divide the exhibition game and suggested Bobrovsky’s future workload will be shaped by discussions with goalie coach Curtis Sanford and the goaltender himself.
Hiller said Bobrovsky likely wants more touches and pucks in game situations, adding that the Canadiens’ goal was a quality finish by Danault. “I thought he looked good,” Hiller said.
For Bobrovsky, the first appearance was about getting back into the rhythm of a game and beginning the work with a new room. He praised the atmosphere in the building and said Toronto did a strong job limiting dangerous looks, keeping Montreal’s shots largely to the outside.
“It was good to play hockey again,” Bobrovsky said. “We will continue to build. It is the first game, and we are getting together, creating chemistry and working through the emotions of being here.”
His partnership with Stolarz gives the Leafs a familiar connection in goal. Stolarz served as Bobrovsky’s backup in Florida during the 2023-24 Cup season, and Bobrovsky said he is pleased to be sharing a locker room with him again.
“It is a great reunion,” Bobrovsky said. “He is a very good goalie. We are excited to be here and help this team win.”
