The Toronto Maple Leafs will start the 2024-25 marketing campaign with out the staff’s presumptive No. 1 netminder after Joseph Woll was dominated out for the regular-season opener due to lower-body tightness. It has been a troubling development for Woll, as numerous accidents have sidetracked him throughout his skilled profession.
He signed a three-year, $10.98 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs in the summertime. It’s a deal that might be a major discount, however he’s not off to an encouraging begin due to continued well being considerations.
Woll Has Managed to Overcome Early Considerations Earlier than
Throughout his time with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL), Woll suffered a shoulder harm in March 2022 that sidelined him for eight months. He had a setback in his restoration and sustained an ankle harm that made him unavailable for coaching camp forward of the 2022-23 season (from ‘After Joseph Woll’s harm, what comes subsequent for the Maple Leafs in purpose?,’ The Athletic, Dec. 7, 2023).
Nevertheless, he bounced again in 2023-24. He seemed to be effectively on his method towards securing the highest goalie spot on the Maple Leafs depth chart earlier than a high-ankle sprain knocked him out of the lineup for 31 video games from Dec. 9 via Feb. 19. Woll rejoined the roster in late February following a short conditioning project within the AHL, successful 4 of his 10 NHL outings down the stretch. He delivered blended outcomes throughout that span, leading to Ilya Samsonov being the goaltender of selection going into the primary spherical of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Once more, Woll rebounded, beginning Video games 5 and 6 versus the Boston Bruins whereas main the Leafs to victories on each events. Sadly, catastrophe struck previous to Recreation 7 when he was dominated out for the competition due to a sprained again. Samsonov carried out admirably following his early-series struggles, however not having a red-hot Woll between the pipes for the winner-take-all match was a serious disappointment.
Associated: Joseph Woll Poised to Seize Maple Leafs’ Beginning Goalie Job
You’ll have to forgive Maple Leafs followers for feeling a well-recognized sense of dread on Wednesday (Oct. 9) after listening to that Woll wouldn’t be out there to play versus the Canadiens due to one other harm difficulty. Regardless that the stakes aren’t almost as excessive as Recreation 7 of a playoff matchup, it nonetheless comes with a deflating sense of déjà vu.
Leafs Tried to Be Cautious With Woll
Woll didn’t see a lot motion in the course of the preseason, logging simply 91:38 of ice time in two appearances. He performed half of the membership’s exhibition opener in opposition to the Ottawa Senators on Sept. 22, and he didn’t return to the crease till the preseason finale versus the Detroit Crimson Wings on Oct. 5. That was in all probability accomplished by design to restrict his workload.
Leafs basic supervisor Brad Treliving spoke about figuring out a plan for Woll in the course of the offseason to keep away from and handle the netminder’s harm points. “So far as our goaltending, I’ve received religion in [Woll]. Now, like all people else, there are questions. The largest query with [Woll] is he’s gotten injured rather a lot. We’ve got to dig into that. Generally that occurs, typically unhealthy luck occurs. Is there a coaching difficulty that now we have to take care of? Do we have to change one thing in his off-ice routine? All these issues are what now we have to dig into.”
Now that one other harm has occurred, how the staff reacts shall be essential. The Maple Leafs is perhaps taking an excessively cautious method by holding him out for the beginning of the season. Nevertheless, Woll’s placement on injured reserve (IR) isn’t an encouraging signal. It was initially reported that the 26-year-old netminder had not been dominated out of Thursday’s (Oct. 10) matchup in opposition to the New Jersey Devils, however his placement on IR will sideline him for at the least the primary three video games.
Goaltending Depth Will Be Put to the Check
Happily, the group has loads of alternative choices. They in all probability aren’t as battle-tested as some would really like, however the offseason signing of Anthony Stolarz ought to yield instant constructive outcomes. He was spectacular in the course of the preseason and was wonderful in 2023-24 because the backup keeper with the Florida Panthers. He’ll get the nod in opposition to the Canadiens, whereas Dennis Hildeby was recalled from the AHL on an emergency foundation to function the backup.
The Leafs even have veteran Matt Murray again within the fold and out there to play after lacking most of final season because of bilateral hip surgical procedure. He’ll get to proceed to work his method again with the Marlies in the meanwhile. Hildeby was in all probability known as up as an alternative as a reward for his excellent play in the course of the exhibition schedule, and he might make his NHL debut.
Leafs Want Woll to Keep Wholesome
Nonetheless, the significance of getting and holding Woll wholesome ought to be paramount. He has flashed large upside prior to now however hasn’t shaken the harm woes regardless of displaying his resiliency. His journeys to the infirmary have come at inopportune occasions and have to be addressed to make sure he can fulfill his potential.
It is going to be a tough and taxing scenario if everybody is consistently holding their breath each time he’s sluggish to rise up after making a save or when he receives some contact within the blue paint. Accidents may be unavoidable, however dangers may be lowered, and coverings may be issued. It’s as much as Woll, his teammates, and members of the Leafs’ employees to do all they will to vary his fame and maintain him within the lineup.
