Dennis Hildeby

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Dennis Hildeby
20240204 AHL Skills Competition (53508704152) (cropped).jpg
Hildeby with the Toronto Marlies in 2024
Born (2001-08-19) 19 August 2001 (age 24)
Järfälla, Sweden
Height 6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Weight 224 lb (102 kg; 16 st 0 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Toronto Maple Leafs
Färjestad BK
NHL draft 122nd overall, 2022
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 2020–present

Dennis Hildeby (born 19 August 2001), nicknamed "the Hildebeast", [1] [2] [3] is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hildeby was drafted in the fourth round, 122nd overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2022 NHL entry draft.

Contents

Playing career

Hildeby started in his youth in Timrå IK system. He played in the 2020–21 season on a loan for Linden Hockey in the Hockeyettan. [4]

Hildeby played in seven regular season games with Färjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) during the 2021–22 season and won the SHL title with the team. [5] [6] He was drafted in the fourth round, 122nd overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL in the 2022 NHL entry draft. [6] [7] On 13 July 2022, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs. [5] [8] He ultimately returned to Färjestad BK on a loan to earn more experience. [5] Hildeby finished the season with Färjestad BK and came over to North America, where he appeared in two games with the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. During the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, Hildeby was recalled on an emergency basis by the Maple Leafs after starting goaltender Ilya Samsonov was injured. [9]

Hildeby attended the Maple Leafs' 2023 training camp, but was assigned to the Marlies to start the 2023–24 season. [10] He was later called up to the Maple Leafs as Samsonov's replacement after the goaltender was placed on waivers, though he did not see any ice time. [11] [12] He was again assigned to the Marlies to start the 2024–25 season, [13] though following an injury to Joseph Woll, he was recalled to the Maple Leafs on an emergency basis. [14] On 10 October 2024, Hildeby made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs, making 23 saves in a 4–2 victory over the New Jersey Devils. [15] He played in one more game, suffering his first NHL loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, before Woll was activated and he was returned to the Marlies on 24 October. [16]

Hildeby earned his first NHL shutout in a 2–0 Maple Leafs' win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on 8 December 2025. [17]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGPWLOTMINGA SO GAA SV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2017–18 Timrå IK J18 12650——21.99.929————————
2018–19Timrå IKJ182110120713.50.881————————
2018–19Timrå IK J20 2371401,2887903.68.873————————
2019–20Timrå IKJ2027161001,6137422.75.911————————
2020–21 Färjestad BK J201871101,0865603.10.911————————
2020–21Linden Hockey Div.1 202074403.26.913————————
2021–22Färjestad BKJ20126507073302.80.931————————
2021–22 Färjestad BK SHL 73203421111.93.931————————
2022–23 Färjestad BKSHL2111901,2224632.26.91810012000.001.000
2022–23 Toronto Marlies AHL 201091805.28.84910011000.001.000
2023–24 Toronto MarliesAHL41211172,3949642.41.9133121791003.35.896
2024–25 Toronto MarliesAHL3016941,6927222.55.90810169403.50.886
2024–25 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 63303612003.33.878————————
SHL totals28141101,5645742.19.92110012000.001.000
NHL totals63303612003.33.878————————

Awards and honours

AwardYearRef
SHL
Le Mat Trophy champion 2022 [18] [19]

References

  1. ↑ Masters, Mark (20 November 2023). "Leafs prospect Hildeby making a name for himself in AHL". PHPA . Retrieved 7 December 2025. Dennis Hildeby sighs when his 'Hildebeast' nickname is brought up.
  2. ↑ Hornby, Lance (1 January 2024). "Hildebeast adds his nickname to Leaf list of labels". Toronto Sun . Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  3. ↑ DiManno, Rosie (1 January 2024). "Enter the Hildebeast, goodbye Ilya Samsonov. That first Maple Leafs practice was an eye-opener". Toronto Star. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  4. ↑ "Sommarprat med Dennis Hildeby". Eskilstuna Linden Hockey (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Alter, David (27 July 2022). "Dennis Hildeby Among Goalie Prospects the Maple Leafs Hope Will Blossom". The Hockey News. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  6. 1 2 Stewart, Brian (8 July 2022). "Toronto Maple Leafs trade picks to select Dennis Hildeby 122nd overall". Pension Plan Puppets. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Petrielli, Anthony (8 July 2022). "Dennis Hildeby drafted 122nd overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs". Maple Leafs Hotstove. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "Maple Leafs Sign Goaltender Dennis Hildeby". Toronto Maple Leafs. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022– via NHL.com.
  9. ↑ "Maple Leafs recall goaltender Dennis Hildeby to serve as team's playoff EBUG". Sportsnet. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  10. ↑ Hornby, Lance (2 October 2023). "Maple Leafs get scissors out to trim roster". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  11. ↑ Barden, Nick (1 January 2024). "'A Very Proud Moment': How Dennis Hildeby Turned His Debut AHL Season into a Call-Up with Maple Leafs". The Hockey News. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  12. ↑ Bukala, Jason; Boylen, Rory (1 January 2023). "Scout's Analysis: What Maple Leafs have in goalie Dennis Hildeby". Sportsnet. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  13. ↑ "Maple Leafs' Dennis Hildeby: Heading to AHL". CBS Sports. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  14. ↑ "Ice Chips: Connor Hellebuyck to start for Winnipeg Jets against Edmonton Oilers". TSN. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  15. ↑ Morealle, Mike G. (11 October 2024). "Hildeby makes 23 saves in NHL debut, Maple Leafs defeat Devils". National Hockey League. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  16. ↑ McGoey, Steven (24 October 2024). "Toronto Maple Leafs Assign Dennis Hildeby To Toronto Marlies, Activate Joseph Woll". The Hockey News. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  17. ↑ McCarthy, Dave (8 December 2025). "Hildeby gets 1st career shutout, Maple Leafs top Lightning". NHL.com. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  18. ↑ "Färjestad wins it on the road". eurohockeyclubs.com. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "Färjestad svenska mästare" [Färjestad BK are Swedish Champions] (in Swedish). Swedish Hockey League. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
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