Maple Leafs’ Joseph Woll taking leave of absence

When speaking to the media on Tuesday morning, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving revealed that goaltender Joseph Woll is taking a leave of absence from the team to address a personal matter.

Treliving didn’t go into detail about the cause of Woll’s departure, except to say it’s for a family matter, with no timeline for when he will return.

In a release from the team, additional details won’t be provided, and they ask for Woll’s privacy to be respected.

Woll came into training camp gearing up for the 2025-26 season, hoping to build off what was his best performance in his short NHL career last year. Despite starting the 2024-25 campaign on injured reserve, the Darenne Prairie, Mo. native made 41 starts, setting career highs in wins (27), goals-against average (2.73) and save percentage (.909) in a full season. His efforts, along with fellow puck stopper Anthony Stolarz, helped Toronto win its first division title in four years.

While Stolarz started the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Leafs, an injury in Game 1 of the second round against the Florida Panthers thrust Woll back into the spotlight. Though he played hard, it wasn’t enough, as the Panthers ousted the Leafs in seven games before going on to win Lord Stanley’s Cup for a second year in a row. Woll went 3-4 in the series against the Cats, posting a 3.56 GAA, a .886 SV% and one shutout in the series.

Despite the injury woes, including a lower-body injury that infamously removed him from Game 7 against the Boston Bruins in the first round in 2024, Woll has established himself as a man who has what it takes to be a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL. He took the reins during the 2023-24 campaign, and even though Stolarz has proven he can be a starter as well, Woll is expected to be a key asset for the Leafs moving forward.

In 78 regular-season appearances with the Leafs, Woll has a career record of 48-27-2, with a 2.74 GAA, a .910 SV% and two shutouts. In the postseason, the 27-year-old is 6-6 in 14 games, registering a 2.73 GAA and a .906 SV%.