Goaltender says he is looking forward to showing what he can do in Maple Leafs training camp this month.
鈥淚’m super excited for camp to get going here, and trying to prove myself and see where it goes from there,鈥 Hildeby said Thursday, his first availability since signing a three-year extension with the Leafs.
The contract is uniquely structured with an average annual value of $841,667. It guarantees his full NHL salary in the third year at $900,000. His NHL pay in the first year is $775,000,聽 in the second year聽 $850,000. His AHL salary for the first year is $350,000,聽,聽and $450,000 for the second.
鈥淚t’s a rare deal for a guy in my position,鈥 said Hildeby, who has six NHL games to his credit. 鈥淏ut I noticed that it was on the table and I liked it. It gives me three more years. I like it here.鈥
The commitment from the Leafs shows Hildeby is moving up the depth chart. He appears to be firmly the No. 3 goalie, the first call-up if Joseph Woll or Anthony Stolarz gets injured.
That wasn’t always the case in his first two seasons. The Leafs relied on veterans Martin Jones in 2023-24 and Matt Murray last season. As things stand, the Leafs aren’t hedging their goaltender bets.
Hildeby, who is 24, Artur Akhtyamov and Vyacheslav Peksa, both 23, have clearer paths to developing with the Marlies and Cincinnati Cyclones without a veteran taking up starts.
For Hildeby, though, it comes with the pressure of having to perform for the Leafs, a Stanley Cup contender, whenever called upon. It could be a make-or-break season in terms of聽 whether he has what it takes.
Stolarz, 32, is in the final year of his deal, so it is in the Leafs’ best interest to determine their goaltending future. At six-foot-seven and 224 pounds, the Hildebeast, as he is nicknamed, offers an intriguing physical package. The trick with goaltending is to marry athleticism with mental toughness.
Hildeby wasn’t very good at it last year, but that’s the learning process goalies go through.
鈥淚t was kind of a roller-coaster season, a little bit up and down,鈥 he said. 鈥淭here was a lot of new stuff I tried to implement into my game that maybe didn’t work out at first. I tried to figure out my game more last season. I feel like this season will be more about taking all this new stuff and making it come together into a way that works for me.鈥
That includes knowing when to stay deep in the net, when to be more aggressive in attacking the shooter, and going post to post.
鈥淚 feel like I’ve taken steps both of my years and I’m looking to do the same this year. I learn from last year’s success and failure and go from there.鈥
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