Toronto Maple Leafs Goalie Joseph Woll Takes Indefinite Leave of Absence for Family Matter

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll has taken a leave of absence to address a personal family matter, with no timeline set for his return. The team and general manager Brad Treliving emphasized support for Woll and requested privacy, clarifying the absence is not related to substance abuse. Woll, 27, had a strong previous season with a 27-14-1 record, a 2.73 goals-against average, and a .909 save percentage, stepping up notably in the playoffs after starter Anthony Stolarz suffered a head injury. With Woll away, Stolarz is expected to handle the bulk of goaltending duties, and third-stringer Dennis Hildeby may see increased preseason action. The Maple Leafs are also working on a contract extension with Stolarz, whose current deal is expiring. Woll had just signed a new three-year contract and was anticipated to split starts with Stolarz this season before his unexpected leave.