The Toronto Maple Leafs look like they could have much-needed goaltending support on the horizon.
Joseph Woll made his first professional start of the 2025-26 season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies on Saturday. The 27-year-old is on a conditioning stint after missing the first month of the year while attending to a personal family matter.
He stopped 21 of 24 shots against the Philadelphia Flyers' AHL affiliate, leaving the contest down 3-1 with 4:51 remaining in the middle frame.
“All I’m gonna say about my time away is that I’m disappointed to have missed time, and I’m very happy to be back," Woll told reporters at their practice facility on Friday. "I ask (that) you guys respect that, if, down the road, I’m interested and think it’d be beneficial to talk about, I’ll initiate that."
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Hockey Night in Canada's Saturday Headlines segment that Woll likely will not be available for the Maple Leafs' tilt with the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.
"The plan was for him to play probably about 30 minutes," Friedman noted on the broadcast. "I wouldn't expect him to be able to play for the Maple Leafs tomorrow, it's his first game."
Toronto is in desperate need of help between the pipes. Anthony Stolarz has carried a heavy load for the team during Woll's absence, starting 11 of their 14 games and posting a 6-4-1 record with a 3.11 goals against average and an .895 save percentage.
Cayden Primeau, who was claimed off waivers from Carolina in early October, served as the backup and made three starts with a 4.31 GAA and .838 save percentage before he was reclaimed by the Hurricanes on Saturday.
Dennis Hildeby was recalled from the Marlies in a subsequent move and appeared in relief during the Maple Leafs' clash against the Boston Bruins after Stolarz allowed four goals on 19 shots.
Woll made 41 starts for the Maple Leafs last season with a 27-14-1 record, impressing with a 2.73 GAA and a .909 save percentage while splitting duties with Stolarz.
The latter took over the starting role for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but Woll returned to the net after Stolarz was injured in Game 1 of the second round against the Florida Panthers.
The Maple Leafs sit fifth in the Atlantic Division with an 8-5-1 record coming into Saturday.
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