The Toronto Maple Leafs will start the 2024-25 marketing campaign with out the workforce’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 varied 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 could possibly be a big discount, however he’s not off to an encouraging begin due to continued well being issues.
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 aim?,’ The Athletic, Dec. 7, 2023).
Nevertheless, he bounced again in 2023-24. He seemed to be nicely on his approach 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 by Feb. 19. Woll rejoined the roster in late February following a short conditioning task within the AHL, profitable 4 of his 10 NHL outings down the stretch. He delivered blended outcomes throughout that span, leading to Ilya Samsonov being the goaltender of alternative 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 Sport 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-known sense of dread on Wednesday (Oct. 9) after listening to that Woll wouldn’t be accessible to play versus the Canadiens due to one other harm challenge. Regardless that the stakes aren’t almost as excessive as Sport 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 through 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 Purple Wings on Oct. 5. That was most likely achieved by design to restrict his workload.
Leafs common supervisor Brad Treliving spoke about understanding a plan for Woll through the offseason to keep away from and deal with the netminder’s harm points. “So far as our goaltending, I’ve bought religion in [Woll]. Now, like everyone else, there are questions. The most important query with [Woll] is he’s gotten injured lots. We have now to dig into that. Typically that occurs, generally unhealthy luck occurs. Is there a coaching challenge that we’ve to take care of? Do we have to change one thing in his off-ice routine? All these issues are what we’ve to dig into.”
Now that one other harm has occurred, how the workforce reacts will probably be essential. The Maple Leafs may be taking an excessively cautious strategy 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 no less than the primary three video games.
Goaltending Depth Will Be Put to the Check
Thankfully, the group has loads of substitute choices. They most likely aren’t as battle-tested as some would love, however the offseason signing of Anthony Stolarz ought to yield instant optimistic outcomes. He was spectacular through 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 accessible to play after lacking most of final season on account of bilateral hip surgical procedure. He’ll get to proceed to work his approach again with the Marlies in the interim. Hildeby was most likely known as up as a substitute as a reward for his very good play through the exhibition scheduled, and he might make his NHL debut.
Leafs Want Woll to Keep Wholesome
Nonetheless, the significance of getting and preserving Woll wholesome needs to be paramount. He has flashed large upside up 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 should be addressed to make sure he can fulfill his potential.
Will probably be a troublesome and taxing state of affairs if everybody is continually holding their breath each time he’s gradual to rise up after making a save or when he receives some contact within the blue paint. Accidents might be unavoidable, however dangers might be decreased, and coverings might be issued. It’s as much as Woll, his teammates, and members of the Leafs’ employees to do all they’ll to alter his repute and preserve him within the lineup.
