'He's Improving': Joseph Woll Took The Ice But Timeline For Return To Maple Leafs' Lineup Not Clear
Woll did not take part in the club's practice on Monday but head coach Craig Berube expressed some optimism that he may join on Tuesday.
Joseph Woll did not practice with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday but there was a positive development with the oft-injured goaltender.
"Went on the ice today for a while. So, (a) good sign. He's improving," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said following the club's practice on Monday. "We'll see tomorrow where he's at. You know, if he can come out with us for a bit. Get some shots and stuff. I'm not sure yet. We'll see tomorrow."
Woll was expected to start in the club's season-opening game against the Montreal Canadiens when news broke the morning of that he wasn't available due to "lower-body tightness" and Dennis Hildeby was called up to back up goaltender Anthony Stolarz.
The nature of Woll's injury isn't known, but six days before the season opener, he was slow to get up after stopping a shot from Auston Matthews at practice and was seen visibly stretching out his left leg.
Stolarz and Hildeby have performed well in Woll's absence. Signed to a two-year contract worth $5 million in the summer, Stolarz has a .940 save percentage through two starts, While Hildeby made 21 saves on 23 shots in his NHL debut in a 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils last week. Both goaltenders have combined to allow just five goals over three games so Toronto is not feeling any need to rush Woll to return.
"Well, we wouldn't rush a guy no matter what. Especially a goalie with an injury," Berube insisted. "We want him to be fully healthy. All players, we want to be fully healthy. We don't want to put anybody at risk with making it worse with another injury."
Woll was placed on injured reserve the day of the club's season-opener. He is eligible to be in the lineup on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. But because he hasn't practiced with the club, it's doubtful he will come off IR that soon.
"Right now we're fine. But we want to get him back as quickly as we can." Berube said of Woll.
The Maple Leafs signed Woll to a three-year extension worth $11 million which kicks in at the beginning of next season. Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving extended the goaltender following a year in which Woll was limited to just 25 games last season, was also unavailable for a crucial Game 7 against the Boston Bruins in Toronto's first-round exit of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.
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