Joseph Woll Steps Away from Leafs for Personal Family Matter
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll has officially stepped away from the team, as it was announced that he is taking a leave of absence to attend to a personal family matter. The organization confirmed the news on Tuesday, with general manager Brad Treliving making it clear that no timeline has been set for Woll’s return. For now, the priority is firmly on family, and the team is giving him the space he needs.
This development comes at an important point in Woll’s career. The 27-year-old is entering what was expected to be a significant season, his fourth in the NHL, after making real strides in 2024–25. Over 42 games last year, he posted a 27-14-1 record with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage, both career highs in workload and performance. He also played seven postseason games for the Leafs, finishing with three wins, four losses, and some challenging numbers under playoff pressure. Even so, his progress had positioned him as a key part of Toronto’s goaltending tandem.
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into training camp this fall, Woll was expected to once again share the crease with Anthony Stolarz. However, it had already been noted that Woll was dealing with an illness early in camp, which limited his ability to fully participate. With this new personal matter added to the mix, the Leafs are now adjusting their goaltending depth chart. For Tuesday night’s preseason matchup against the Ottawa Senators, Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov were named as the goaltenders dressing for Toronto.
For Woll, this season also carries financial significance. He just began a brand-new three-year contract worth $10.98 million, carrying an annual cap hit of $3.66 million. The deal underscored the organization’s confidence in him as a long-term option in net, a trust that had been earned since he was drafted in the third round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
The announcement of his leave comes as Toronto navigates other absences as well. Forward Max Domi missed training camp on the same day to attend his grandfather’s funeral. These reminders highlight that, behind the numbers and competition of professional hockey, personal lives and family responsibilities always take priority.
While the team and fans may naturally wonder how long Woll will be away, the message from management has been clear: there is no rush. The focus is entirely on allowing Woll the time and space he needs to manage matters at home. When he is ready, he will rejoin the team and continue building on the promising momentum of his young career.
For now, the Maple Leafs will lean on their depth and prepare for the season ahead, while support for Woll and his family remains the most important storyline.
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