John Tavares And Joseph Woll Absent From Maple Leafs Practice, Timothy Liljegren Replaces Conor Timmins On Third Defense Pairing
Liljegren's been a healthy scratch since the start of the season after not having the best training camp.
John Tavares and Joseph Woll were absent from Maple Leafs practice on Monday.
Tavares missed Saturday's home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins due to an illness. Pontus Holmberg and Bobby McMann shifted to Toronto's second line with the 34-year-old out.
McMann remained on Toronto's second line during Tuesday's practice with Max Domi shifting to the second-line centre role and Holmberg moving down to the third line.
Among other players moving around, Timothy Liljegren moves up to the third pairing alongside Simon Benoit. Conor Timmins shifts down to the fourth pairing with Philippe Myers.
Liljegren hasn't appeared in the lineup so far in the regular season. He admitted during Toronto's training camp that his game hasn't had much flow to it, adding that he'll take things day by day in hopes of returning to the lineup.
Woll hasn't been on the ice since last Tuesday, one day before the team's season-opener against the Montreal Canadiens. He was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with what Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said was lower-body tightness.
Berube updated Woll's status after practice on Monday, saying he was on the ice earlier and is feeling better. Berube added that they'll see if the netminder can join them for a practice soon.
Woll hasn't appeared in practice since Tuesday, where it seemed like he was preparing to get the season-opening start against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Maple Leafs signed Woll to a three-year, $10.98 million extension on July 1, 2024, that begins next season. This is the final year where the goaltender's annual average value is $766,667, before going up to $3.66 million next season.
When addressing the media ahead of the season, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving hoped that the injury woes were behind Woll, but understood that health could hinge on luck.
"Well, guys can get hurt, right? Like, that happens, you know. I don't know, "Treliving said. "We hopefully spent lots of time on working at it, but that doesn't mean, you know, sometimes luck runs in the way, right?
"He's had a really good summer. He's really fit. We looked at some different things in terms of his mechanics and all those types of things and core. But he's always been dialled in with that. So, yeah, he's put in all the work. We're hopeful he can stay healthy. Stuff happens, but he's looked real good."
Woll is eligible to return to game action on Wednesday when Toronto faces the Los Angeles Kings at home.
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