Maple Leafs Activate Joseph Woll From Injured Reserve: Expected Debut Revealed

Goalie Joseph Woll was activated from injured reserve, the team announced on Thursday. The Leafs responded by sending Dennis Hildeby to the Toronto Marlies, their affiliate in the American Hockey League.

Woll has yet to play this season because the 26-year-old was ruled unable to play in Toronto's October 9 season opener against the Montreal Canadiens. Due to a lower-body injury, he was later placed on IR.

For the former Boston College goalie, the injury was a part of an alarming pattern. Woll missed nearly two months of action due to a high-ankle sprain he sustained early in 2022-2023 after stealing the starting position from Matt Murray. Later, Woll was called up to help the Leafs avoid losing to the Boston Bruins in their first-round series. Due to an unidentified injury, he was taken out of the lineup just hours before Game 7 after two outstanding performances.

Darren Dreger of TSN says Woll might start against the Blues, but if not, he will at least be Anthony Stolarz's backup. Early in the season, Stolarz, who signed a contract in Toronto to be Woll's backup, has shown promise. With a 1.83 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage, he has performed well in five games, exceeding expectations and generating some competition in the crease.

Woll, who in the off-season inked a three-year contract extension worth $11 million, has a little more in store for this season. Woll, who was selected by the Leafs with the 62nd overall pick in 2016, has participated in 36 NHL games during the previous three seasons. His development has been gradual thus far. The Leafs are eager for him to return in the hopes that he can win games and reclaim his starting spot.

Leafs coach has just announced that Woll will play his first game of the season on Thursday night against Craig Berube's old team, the St. Louis Blues.