In a disheartening turn of events for the Toronto Maple Leafs, head coach Craig Berube revealed that goalie Joseph Woll has been sidelined with a lower-body injury, barring him from hitting the ice since Wednesday’s season opener. Berube expressed uncertainty regarding Woll’s return, stating that there is no set timetable and the young netminder remains day-to-day.
With Woll’s absence, the Maple Leafs have had to rely on backup Anthony Stolarz and third stringer Dennis Hildeby between the pipes. Stolarz fell short in the season opener against the Montreal Canadiens, while Hildeby stood tall and secured a victory against the New Jersey Devils the following night. The pressure now falls on Stolarz’s shoulders as he is projected to get the nod as the starting goalie on Saturday.
Woll, a promising 26-year-old talent who recently inked a lucrative three-year, $11 million extension, has unfortunately been plagued by injury setbacks throughout his career. Last season, he appeared in just 25 games due to a high ankle sprain in December. Despite his resilience, Woll only managed to make it into three playoff games, winning two, before being sidelined for a crucial Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Drafted by the Maple Leafs in the third round of the 2016 NHL Draft, Woll has shown flashes of brilliance with a career 2.76 goals-against average across 36 NHL appearances. The team is hopeful for his swift recovery and return to the crease, as they navigate the early challenges of the season without their talented young goalie.