Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll has taken a personal leave of absence to attend to a family matter, general manager Brad Treliving told reporters Tuesday, including David Alter of The Hockey News. There’s no timeline for his return, and he may be unavailable for the start of the regular season as a result.
That could be a potentially significant blow to the Leafs to start the season. After working his way into the NHL full-time in 2023-24, Woll delivered a good showing as Toronto’s 1B option behind Anthony Stolarz in 2024-25, posting a .909 SV% and 2.73 GAA while compiling a 27-14-1 record in 41 starts and one relief appearance. That’s the fourth time in four NHL seasons that the 27-year-old has posted comfortably above-average stats. He’s got a .910 SV% and 2.74 GAA in 78 career appearances, translating to 19.8 goals saved above average.
“No additional details will be provided at this time, and we ask that [Woll’s] privacy be respected,” the club said in a statement. Treliving specified that Woll’s absence is not a substance abuse-related matter, Alter said.
The starter’s load could be squarely on the injury-prone Stolarz’s shoulders to begin the season as a result. Performance isn’t a concern – he’s led the league in save percentage in back-to-back years – but availability is. Stolarz’s 34 starts last year marked a career high. The pending unrestricted free agent missed 24 games in the middle of the season due to knee surgery.
If Woll remains unavailable at the start of the regular season, it will be Dennis Hildeby getting a crack at being Stolarz’s backup as things stand. The 24-year-old Swede is entering his fourth season in North America and made his NHL debut last year. He didn’t impress in his six starts, managing a 3-3-0 record but posting subpar individual play with a .872 SV% and 3.33 GAA. He’s coming off back-to-back strong showings with AHL Toronto and was an All-Star in that league in 2023-24, though, so there’s still some evident upside in giving the 6’7″, 224-lb netminder another NHL crack.
Regardless, it’s likely that Treliving would peruse the waiver wire or explore trade acquisitions if Woll’s absence stretches past a few games. There are no other NHL-experienced goaltenders under contract in Toronto other than Stolarz and Hildeby, and adding one should be a preemptive concern, with Stolarz’s durability not a given.
Best of luck to Woll, whatever the situation is. Seems like a genuine and good guy.
Bring Samsonov back he is the only one left available.
That’s not true Reimer, Campbell, Tokarski or even Martin Jones could be available.
There will likely be a few goalies out on waivers soon enough. If not they have Hildeby. If Woll is only gone 3-4 weeks he’ll only miss a couple games.
Of the goalies you mentioned I’d pass on all of them over Hildeby. Give him a chance first. They can also move a depth forward for a 3rd stringer.
I forgot about Jack Campbell he was actually successful with the Leafs. They may find magic with him again.
Reimer would get run out of Toronto with his comments on pride nights a couple years ago. They won’t even consider him because of the potential PR disaster in the community.
Not saying right, not saying wrong, just saying you won’t see Reimer back in Toronto.
That is a shame. Hopefully whatever it is works out well for him and his family
If these players want their privacy respected, And they certainly deserve that, Then don’t share any information, This happens, Time, And time again, And, It’s really none of our business, These celebrity types want privacy, But, They also love the media attention, Pick one!!!!!!
Classy response as always, wilf.
No hockey fan needs to know anything about any player’s family situation. It’s irrelevant to your fandom and it’s parasocial and weird.
Really won’t impact the team. Stolarz is the better goalie
Stolarz has a career high of 34 games played in one season.