It was in a latest episode of the Kyper and Bourne podcast the place the dialog surrounded the Toronto Maple Leafs and the late scratch of projected beginning goalie, Joseph Woll, forward of their opening night time recreation in Montreal. Throughout this dialog, Nick Kypreos urged that as a result of harm and lacking opening night time, Woll must earn again the belief of his teammates and make them consider that he might be counted on to assist win video games.
Based mostly solely on the response of co-host Justin Bourne, Kypreos’ suggesting that there’s an absence of belief there that must be earned again appears hyperbolized. Simply watch Bourne’s facial response when Kypreos kicks off the dialog.
Whereas it is perhaps hyperbolized, the identical remark was made concerning Frederik Andersen in Carolina after he had missed a number of playoff video games following the transfer to the Hurricanes franchise. Andersen has since come again and supplied strong goaltending, so now the query is whether or not or not Woll can do the identical for the Maple Leafs — and whether or not it consists of incomes again the belief of his teammates.
Has Woll Misplaced the Belief of His Teammates?
Let’s be actual, that is an unmeasurable stat that solely these contained in the room can quantify. For Kypreos to counsel that Woll has misplaced that belief from his teammates primarily based solely on his previous profession as an NHL participant is questionable.
That mentioned, let’s have a look at it primarily based on Woll’s profession to this point. He’s a goaltender that has performed simply 36 common season video games for the Maple Leafs. He hasn’t missed that point primarily based on accidents, somewhat the Maple Leafs weren’t prepared to maneuver him up of their organizational depth chart.
Final season was the primary 12 months that he earned a chance and that got here with Ilya Samsonov dropping his recreation and Matt Murray struggling a year-long harm. In these 25 video games, he completed with a 12-11-1 report, a 2.94 objectives towards common (GAA) and .907 save share (SV%). These aren’t precisely numbers for a man that has given up on making an attempt for his teammates.
Even within the playoffs, he performed three video games in 2023-24 — sure, as a result of harm — however his numbers have been strong. He had a 0.86 GAA and .964 SV%. In seven profession playoff video games he has a report of 3-2-0, a 1.78 GAA and .933 SV%. When he’s been capable of, he’s proven up and obtained the job performed. So what belief does he have to earn again?
Teammates Belief Lies in Woll’s Well being, Not Skill
One factor that Bourne talked about within the video that countered Kypreos’ declare was that when Woll was in internet, he confirmed up and performed effectively for the group — indicating that the belief that was misplaced wasn’t a lot in his skills, somewhat in his well being.
Associated: Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Pyramid – Begin of 2024-25
At that charge, it doesn’t a lot fall on Woll’s shoulders to earn again the belief of his teammates. As an alternative, it’s extra hoping that he can stay wholesome for a long term past the common season. The one manner to try this is to get wholesome — and at 100% — and return to the lineup capable of totally do his job.
Woll Deserves the Good thing about the Doubt
Because it stands, Woll has performed nothing to deserve doubt of his teammates or the Toronto media. Prefer it was said earlier, when he’s been capable of play, he’s posted good numbers and given the Maple Leafs an opportunity to win.
Even within the preseason there have been questions round his well being as a result of he didn’t actually see as a lot time as some would possibly’ve anticipated. That mentioned, for now, the Maple Leafs have two very succesful goaltenders in Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby.
The objective now, for each Woll and the group, is to offer him the time wanted to get totally wholesome and again on the ice to assist the group win. Then, and solely then, can he earn again no matter belief Kypreos thinks he must amongst his teammates.
As for a timeline for his return, it’s nonetheless up within the air because the goaltender has but to skate since struggling the harm, in response to head coach Craig Berube.
