Joseph Woll is back.
Just not quite yet for the Toronto Maple Leafs goalie.
Woll return to the team after an absence for a personal reason, but he’s not actually able to take the ice yet.
Anthony Stolarz continues to hold down the top goaltending spot by himself in the meantime.
Woll will be allowed back on the ice soon, though.
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Why isn’t Joseph Woll playing yet?
Joseph Woll isn’t playing yet because the Maple Leafs had place him on long-term injured reserve.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman explained it like this in a weekend appearance on Hockey Night in Canada:
“He skated today, he’s going to join the team for practice. Because he’s on LTIR, he cannot rejoin the Maple Leafs in a game situation until Nov. 1 at least. I assume there’s gonna be a conditioning stint here. But right now, at this point in time, no set idea as to when he’ll actually be able to play an NHL game.”
Woll’s leave of absence began Sept. 23.
He hasn’t played in an NHL game since Game 7 of the playoffs last season against the Florida Panthers.
Last season, Woll went 27-14-1 with a 2.73 goals against average and a 90.9% save percentage.
Stolarz has started seven of the Leafs’ nine games so far, with Primeau starting the other two.
The next step for Woll is likely an assignment to the AHL Marlies to get back up to speed, but at this point, everyone is awaiting the Leafs’ next official roster move.
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