Toronto Maple Leafs Injury Update

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Thursday that goaltender Joseph Woll is being placed on long-term injury reserve. Woll left the team at the start of the season for personal reasons. Neither the team nor Woll has disclosed the personal reasons for his leaving the team. Woll did show up to training camp and took part in some pre-season games. His sudden departure is a shock. He was expected to continue his stellar tandem with Anthony Stolarz, which found success last season.

Placing Woll on LTIR frees up $3.67 million in salary cap space. Leafs head coach Craig Berube did not have any updates on Woll, but said that there is no timeline for his return. With Woll leaving, the Leafs claimed Cayden Primeau off waivers. He is the Leafs’ current backup goaltender. The move to add Primeau allows a goaltender like Dennis Hildeby to get more playing time with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL.

Following the Woll LTIR placement, the Leafs recalled defenseman Dakota Mermis. The Mermis recall is due to another injury situation in the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup. After a scary incident against the New Jersey Devils involving defenseman Chris Tanev, the team placed Tanev on Injured Reserve. He will miss a minimum of seven days. That will be a minimum of three games Tanev will miss. He is such an important part of the Leafs’ defense. The team will miss him for sure. Philippe Myers will take Tanev’s spot in the lineup, with Mermis being the extra defenseman.

Toronto Maple Leafs Update on Scott Laughton

Scott Laughton has started skating again. Laughton has been out of the Maple Leafs’ lineup with a lower-body injury since October 2nd. He skated for the first time on Thursday since blocking a shot against the Detroit Red Wings in that preseason game. Laughton is expected to be a main part of the Leafs’ bottom six. Seeing him inch closer to a return to the ice is a positive sign for the team.

The fourth line of Laughton, Easton Cowan, and Steven Lorentz played well together during the preseason. They showed good chemistry. Through the first seven games of the season, chemistry appears to be missing in the Leafs’ lineup. Having Laughton in the lineup also helps to balance out where other players play. New Maple Leafs forward Nicolas Roy has been taking Laughton’s spot as the fourth-line centre during Laughton’s absence.

The fourth line has been a rotating mix of players since the start of the season. Roy, Cowan, Lorentz, Nicholas Robertson, Dakota Joshua, and Calle Jarnkrok have all played a game or more on that line. Getting a healthy Laughton back soon would add some stability to Craig Berube’s lineup.

Brad Treliving Has Cap Space to Add

With Woll on LTIR, the Maple Leafs could use the $3.67 million they gained to make a trade. The Leafs have been rumored to have interest in several players throughout the summer and into the season. However, it appeared that a trade or signing would only happen if the Leafs moved a player or two out first. Now they don’t have to. The Leafs could acquire a player now, and when the time comes for Woll to rejoin the team, then Leafs GM Brad Treliving can worry about moving someone out.