TORONTO — “I feel great. I’m ready to go,” Joseph Woll announced to reporters gathered Friday at the Toronto Maple Leafs’ west-end practice facility, before boarding a plane bound for Chicago.
Though coach Craig Berube is keeping his goaltending card close to vest, expect Woll to make his first NHL start in nearly six months Saturday at United Center against Connor Bedard and an energized Blackhawks squad (8-5-4).
“He’s the same old Joe to me in practice. I like what I see. He’s a hard worker. He looks good,” Berube told reporters. “He seems normal to me and ready to go.”
Play the man, then.
Prospect-slash-backup Dennis Hildeby has appeared in four straight games — all losses, not at all his fault — and needs a breath, while overworked starter Anthony Stolarz has yet to rejoin practice since suffering an upper-body injury Tuesday in Boston.
Woll, 27, played a game and a half down with the Marlies on an AHL conditioning stint (0-1-1, .885) and has been back working with the organization for three weeks since his abrupt departure in training camp to deal with a personal matter.
Yes, the Maple Leafs’ 32nd-ranked defence is leaking oil (surrendering a league-worst 3.83 goals per game), but Woll is the best healthy goaltender in the system — and starting him on the road should alleviate pressure.
In addition to activating Woll Friday, the Maple Leafs also recalled energetic rookie Easton Cowan. In corresponding moves, they sent down goalie Artur Akhtyamov and retroactively placed captain Auston Matthews (lower body) on injured reserve. The earliest Matthews can now return is Thursday versus Columbus.
Cowan took reps on a line with Nicolas Roy and Sammy Blais, in addition to the Matthews-less top power-play unit, and no doubt is thrilled to be back with the big club after a two-game stint with the Marlies (one assist).
Cowan missed going head-to-head with close friend Fraser Minten because he had been in the AHL during Toronto’s two-game battle with the Boston Bruins.
“We talk almost every day about how it’s going,” Minten said, when the Bruins rolled through Toronto Saturday. “Kind of in the same sort of spot that I was in last year here. There’s not a lot of people that understand what that’s like when you’re a young guy coming from junior, especially a guy like him.
“He’s been a star for years now, and it’s a huge transition jumping into a different role, different league, everything like that. Helps me talking to him, and hopefully helps him, the friendship that we have.”
Minten’s advice to Cowan while the Leafs’ undisputed top prospect was down on the farm?
“Just play the game like you would if you were in the NHL,” Minten said. “Build your game. If you keep doing the right things, they’ll see it and you’ll get another chance. Just be ready for it when you do get it.”
Well, he’s got it now.
And Berube will be leaning on Cowan and — in all likelihood — Woll on Saturday to snuff out the club’s longest losing streak.
One-Timers: The Maple Leafs have a minus-4 goal differential, while the surprising Blackhawks are a plus-11. ... Matthew Knies and Brandon Carlo both skipped Friday’s practice in the name of maintenance. ... Scott Laughton (upper body) returned to the ice in a no-contact sweater. ... Chris Tanev (upper body) still does not have a timeline for return, but Berube says the defenceman is trending in the right direction.
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