Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll expected to miss a week with lower-body injury

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll watches the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period in Raleigh, N.C., on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

TORONTO — Joseph Woll is back in the press box.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said Saturday prior to Toronto’s game against the Montreal Canadiens that the oft-injured goaltender is expected to be sidelined “a week … hopefully” with a lower-body injury.

Woll didn’t come back for the third period of Thursday’s 5-1 victory over the Hurricanes in Carolina after favouring his left leg. The Maple Leafs announced at the time 27-year-old was out with a lower-body injury and said Saturday he had been retroactively placed on injured reserve.

Toronto (13-11-3) is already without fellow netminder Anthony Stolarz, who hasn’t been seen on the ice since Nov. 11 because of an upper-body injury that was initially thought to be a short-term issue.

Woll was away from the Leafs for “personal family reasons” during training camp and only returned Nov. 15 before starting eight of the team’s next nine games. The Dardenne Prairie, Mo., native provided the wobbling club some strong performances, going 4-3-1 with a .923 save percentage and a 2.44 goals-against average.

Toronto recalled Artur Akhtyamov from the American Hockey League to back up Dennis Hildeby, who retakes his place in the spotlight after starting the season as the Leafs’ No. 4 option behind Stolarz, Woll and Cayden Primeau before the latter was claimed on waivers by Carolina last month.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2025.

The Canadian Press