Joseph Woll has been missed by the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, there was good news reported yesterday. Woll is traveling with the team on this Western Canadian road trip. That can only mean that he’s making positive strides in his recovery from a high-ankle sprain that he sustained on December 7 against the Ottawa Senators.
The Latest News on Woll’s Return to Action
Here’s the latest news about Woll’s progress and its possible impact on the team.
First, Woll is currently on the road with the Maple Leafs as part of their ongoing four-game trip. As noted, this indicates that he’s been making significant progress in his recovery journey. The young goalie has been sidelined since the injury, but his inclusion in the team’s travel plans suggests a potential return to action soon.
Second, when Woll returns, if he’s up to snuff, it would be a huge relief for the Maple Leafs. The team has been facing goaltending challenges with Ilya Samsonov’s struggles. At the same time, while Martin Jones has been playing well enough, the team does not want to overuse him. As a result, the Maple Leafs are looking forward to getting Woll back into the lineup when he receives his medical clearance.
Third, there was a recent positive update that Woll had resumed skating with Maple Leafs coaches this week. His recovery seems to be on track, and there have been no reported setbacks. If things go as they are thus far, he seems positioned well both physically and mentally to jump back into the team’s crease.
The Maple Leafs Are Optimistic About Woll’s Return to Game Action
The team is cautiously optimistic about Woll’s return. But, how soon might that be? It’s hard to see him back in action over the next three games; however, there is a possibility that he might just do that. Why would the Maple Leafs bring him on their Western Canada road trip if he’s not close to being ready?
Head Coach Keefe acknowledged on Tuesday that Woll is still a “ways away” from returning. At the time, Keefe emphasized the need for patience about his recovery. Interestingly, there’s a parallel to draw with teammate Timothy Liljegren’s recovery timeline. Liljegren suffered from a similar injury, and it took him just over a month to first practice and then a few more days to return to game action.
Woll’s progress aligns with that trajectory. Specifically, Liljegren suffered his high ankle sprain on November 2, returned to skating on December 3, and finally saw game action on December 16. Should the same trajectory hold for Woll, his return to the ice should be about January 20 or so.
There Have Been No Setbacks in Woll’s Rehab
Fortunately, Woll has navigated his recovery without encountering setbacks. That is a reassuring sign for the team as they look forward to his return.
As Woll continues his journey back to the ice, Maple Leafs fans are optimistic about his return. The goaltender’s recovery so far has been positive progress reports, which bodes well for the team’s goaltending stability in the games that will come in the second half of the season.
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