Breaking: Toronto Maple Leafs Have High Hopes for Breakout Player of the…
Toronto Maple Leafs Have High Hopes for Breakout Player of the…
Goaltender Joseph Woll has demonstrated significant potential during his brief NHL tenure. The Toronto Maple Leafs believe they have finally found a netminder capable of leading them to playoff success.
The Leafs have been seeking a reliable goaltender to complement their star forwards throughout the Auston Matthews era, having tried Frederik Andersen, Jack Campbell, Matt Murray, and Ilya Samsonov without postseason success.
Joseph Woll, a third-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, has shown promise in his limited NHL appearances. The Maple Leafs recognized his potential and opted not to acquire a veteran goalie in the offseason, instead signing Woll to a three-year extension.
Woll’s new contract, with an average annual value of $3.67 million, is a significant increase from his entry-level deal. Despite having only 36 career NHL games, the Leafs are betting on Woll’s upside.
Woll’s primary challenge has been staying healthy. Working with the team’s strength and conditioning staff and avoiding injuries could be crucial for the Leafs’ success.
If Woll fulfills his potential, the Leafs will have a number-one goaltender under contract through the 2027-2028 season, coinciding with the end of Matthews’ current deal. Woll’s relatively low salary provides the Leafs with flexibility to strengthen other areas of the roster.
Woll’s calm demeanor and playoff performances have been especially inspiring. During last season’s first-round series against the Boston Bruins, Woll nearly led the Leafs back from a 3-1 deficit, looking unbeatable in Games 5 and 6.
Previous Leafs goalies often allowed soft, demoralizing goals in crucial moments. In contrast, Woll outperformed the Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman, giving the Leafs a rare edge in goaltending during the playoffs. He ranked sixth in goals-saved-above-expected and led all goalies in goals-saved-above-expected-per-60 during the playoffs (according to Moneypuck.com).
His regular season stats are also encouraging, with a career .912 save percentage and a positive GSAA (goals-saved-above-average) across three seasons.
The Maple Leafs have wisely recognized Woll’s talent, viewing him as a goalie who elevates his play when it matters most. Keeping him healthy is crucial for the team’s success this season, and Woll establishing himself as the starter is key to the Leafs contending for the top spot in their division or the Eastern Conference.
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