It wouldn't be the end of the world if the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to sign goalie Anthony Stolarz to a contract extension. Doing so could spell the end for a potentially crucial competitive advantage over most other Stanley Cup hopefuls, however.
Allowing Stolarz to play out his contract year wouldn't be for the weak of heart, but shouldn't we expect some courage from teams participating in one of the most dangerous sports on the planet?
Contract year motivation: greed can be good for Stolarz, Leafs
Truth be told, it's difficult to measure the impact of a contract year in scientific terms.