Monday was another step in the right direction for Joseph Woll.
The 25-year-old netminder skated in his first full practice with the Maple Leafs the morning after the Super Bowl on Sunday. It has been a long road for Woll since suffering the high-ankle injury during the third period of their Dec. 7 game against the Ottawa Senators.
In early January, Woll worked one-on-one with Maple Leafs goalie coach Curtis Sanford as he continues his recovery. He has also joined his teammates for a few optional morning skates in the past couple of weeks.
However, on Monday, it was again another step in the right direction for the netminder.
"Today was an important step, just to get him more reps and to have his own net," Keefe said.
"Getting Joe tested a little bit more today, it looks like he got through it well. I haven’t talked to him today, more the medical people, but they will chart his path going forward. Today was a good step."
Martin Jones, a crucial piece for the Maple Leafs since Woll got injured — having a 9-7-1 record and a .908 save percentage — did not participate in practice on Monday.
Instead, the veteran goaltender of over 450 games worked individually on a different rink.
"Jones got some work in prior to practice and a little bit while we were getting going there on his own outside of the practice session itself," Keefe added on Monday.
Although Woll participating in practice is a good sign, there is still no updated timeline for his return. Keefe, ahead of the Maple Leafs game on Feb. 5 against the New York Islanders, said the young netminder is on track in his recovery.
"Obviously, getting out on the ice today and then kind of getting more involved in practices, the timelines that we were given, he's on track for," Keefe said on Feb. 5, "which is sort of the middle of this month to getting back into more full involvement."
The Maple Leafs currently have $801,666 in available cap space, meaning they will have the space for Woll whenever he's ready to return. Given Toronto is also close to the roster limit (at 22/23 players) with a few other injuries, the Maple Leafs might need to send a player down.
Woll was having a great start to the season before he suffered a high-ankle sprain. In 15 games, he has eight wins and a .916 save percentage. The goaltender, with his strong numbers, is very valuable to the Maple Leafs given his cap hit is only $766,667 for this season and next.
Following the 2024-25 season, Woll will be a restricted free agent.
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