One of the best goalies in the Toronto Maple Leafs system has slowly made his way near the limelight, even though few expected him to develop the way he has. Goaltender Dennis Hildeby has come a long way from being taken in the fourth round, 25th overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft. It was easy to be impressed by the goaltender’s stature, standing 6-foot-7 with seemingly room to grow physically.
However, few predicted the Swedish netminder could’ve projected he’d develop into an NHL-ready goaltender in just a few seasons. After joining the Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, late in the 2022-23 season, he became the team’s No. 1 netminder last year, posting a 21-11-7 record with a 2.41 goals-against average and .913 save percentage with four shutouts.
Hildeby is currently 20th in the AHL in save percentage and 15th in GAA
While Hildeby’s numbers aren’t as good in the AHL this season as they were in 2023-24–a 14-7-2 record with a 2.56 GAA, a .907 SV% and one shutout–he’s still maturing into what the Leafs hope can be a solid asset between the pipes.
The 23-year-old made his NHL debut on Oct. 10, making 23 saves in a win over the New Jersey Devils. He’s played a total of six games so far, last appearing in goal on Jan. 22, giving up four goals in a 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hildeby went 3-3-0 with a 3.33 GAA and a .878 SV% during his short stint in the NHL, but with a little more time, he can with the big club full-time.
Daily Faceoff prospect expert Steven Ellis recently broke down Hildeby’s game, explaining how far he has come in a short time, making him a steal from the later rounds of the 2022 draft.
“[Hildeby] was drafted as a triple coverage,” Ellis wrote. “But Toronto showed full belief in him despite playing just 19 games in his draft year. He was impressive in the top Swedish pro league and then proceeded to play some excellent hockey with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies last year … Hildeby has incredible size and has shown how good he can be when he’s dialed in at the AHL level. It’s unlikely he’ll become a starter in the NHL, but if he can add some quickness while limiting the scrambling on rebounds, Hildeby could be a serviceable No. 2 in the NHL in the coming years.”
In 67 AHL appearances, Hildeby is 35-19-9, with a 2.53 GAA, a .909 SV% and five shutouts. He’s also played in four Calder Cup Playoff games, going 1-2 with a .896 SV%.
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