Keefe said on Wednesday that Woll is still "quite a ways away" from seeing game action.
Keefe said on Wednesday that Woll is still "quite a ways away" from seeing game action.
Joseph Woll appears to be one step closer to a return, but according to Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, the goaltender won't be in the lineup any time soon.
The 25-year-old netminder has been out since Dec. 7, where he suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Ottawa Senators. He's returned to the ice in recent weeks, but hasn't taken in a full practice with the team.
Woll's eventual return to practice won't happen until after the NHL All-Star break. The Maple Leafs play their first game post-break on Feb. 5 against the San Jose Sharks at home.
"He's progressing very well," Keefe said on Wednesday morning. "He's going to remain here and work through our bye week and All-Star break. So, he'll remain on the ice.
"I think the plan, or the hope is, that once we return he'll be closer to, or ready to, join our practices. I would say though that him coming back to play after the All-Star break would not be imminent.
"It would be more so progressing for the practices and then testing it and progressing from there. He's still quite a ways away from games."
The Maple Leafs have had to rely upon Martin Jones and Ilya Samsonov since Woll's injury. Jones has appeared in 17 games and has 9-6-1 record since entering the crease following Woll's ailment, posting a .911 save percentage through that span.
Samsonov has played just two games since being placed on waivers on Dec. 31. His last game, against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday, was one of his best games of the season as he stopped 16 of 17 shots for a .941 save percentage.
Woll has an 8-5-1 record through 15 games with the Maple Leafs this season, posting a .916 save percentage.
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