The Toronto Maple Leafs are making adjustments in goal due to a significant reason: Joseph Woll is dealing with an injury and is currently day-to-day. He did return to practice today, but it’s unclear if that means he’ll be back in games soon.
**Update on Joseph Woll’s Injury**
Woll is starting to be seen as injury-prone. While this could be seen as a setback, it’s more of a chance to regroup. Nowadays, it’s common for NHL goaltenders to struggle to reach more than 60 regular-season starts. For instance, Stuart Skinner’s performance last season, with 82 total games played, was quite impressive.
Goaltenders typically experience gradual progress in terms of games played each season. Woll, who played for the Boston College Eagles from 2016 to 2019, has never exceeded 37 games in a season; his professional high is just 32 in his rookie year. Despite this, he boasts a .912 save percentage in NHL appearances, which bodes well when he’s healthy.
**Who Else Can the Leafs Rely On in Goal?**
When considering the Leafs’ goaltending situation, there are some positives. Matt Murray brings veteran experience to the team, which is beneficial. Meanwhile, Dennis Hildeby shows potential as a future star but is still quite inexperienced, so expectations are low, but his upside is promising.
The Leafs have positioned themselves well for the 2024-25 season by acquiring Anthony Stolarz from the Florida Panthers during the offseason. As a 30-year-old backup with 111 NHL games under his belt, he recorded a .899 save percentage last season with the Anaheim Ducks. His career average of .916 suggests that last season was an anomaly, which could bode well for the Leafs.
In summary, the Leafs are well-equipped to handle the situation. Woll is expected to return sooner rather than later, and in the meantime, Stolarz is ready to step up, which is precisely why he was brought in. The team also has capable NHL goaltenders who can back him up, making for an encouraging outlook in net.
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