Mulling the Maple Leafs: Joseph Woll Might Be An Expendable Piece – The Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are already a handful of games into the regular season. So far, they’ve looked good with depth scoring being the main discussion point as Auston Matthews was held pointless through the team’s first three games of the season.

One of the other focal points early on this season has been the team’s goaltending. Joseph Woll came out of camp nursing a lower-body injury while Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby have manned the team’s net early on.

While this season was supposed to be one where Woll took the reins, the injury off the hop has allowed for the Maple Leafs to see what they have organizationally. When he does return, however, aside from setting Woll and Stolarz as the set duo once again, the Maple Leafs could ponder other options as they look ahead to future promotions of Hildeby and — eventually — Artur Akhtyamov.

Maple Leafs Could Stick With the Woll, Stolarz Duo

Of course the easiest option would be to stick to the duo. After all, Woll’s numbers — albeit in a small sample size — are solid. Through 36 career games, he holds a 21-13-1 record with a .912 save percentage (SV%) and 2.76 goals against average (GAA). His playoff numbers are even better.

Stolarz, also with a smaller sample size of sorts, has similar numbers in 111 career regular season games. He has a record of 86-45-32 with a 2.66 GAA and .916 SV% and a Stanley Cup to add to that experience.

So all things considered, the Maple Leafs wouldn’t be in bad shape if they were to stick to this pairing. That said, some outside of the organization have questioned what kind of confidence and trust Woll comes back with following the injury and how his game will rebound. While I don’t think team trust will be an issue, his overall confidence knowing what’s behind him on the team’s depth chart could rattle him a bit.

Related: Maple Leafs’ Trust in Joseph Woll Wrongfully Called into Question

So what are the other options for the team?

Maple Leafs Could Move on From Joseph Woll

I know it sounds crazy. Usually I’m not one for moving on from younger players organizationally until proven otherwise. Heck, I’m still on the Timothy Liljegren train (a story for another time). But knowing what the Maple Leafs have organizationally could push Woll out of two — especially if…