Joseph Woll Takes Indefinite Leave of Absence

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that 27-year-old goaltender Joseph Woll is taking an indefinite leave of absence to attend to a personal family matter, with the club asking that his privacy be respected and providing no timeline for his return; it is unclear whether he will be available for the Oct. 8 season opener against the Montreal Canadiens. General manager Brad Treliving said the leave is not related to substance abuse and that the team fully supports Woll. Woll signed a new three-year, $10.98 million contract beginning this season and went 27-14-1 with a .909 save percentage and 2.73 GAA in a career-high 42 games in 2024-25; he appeared in seven playoff games (including a Game 6 shutout) and finished the postseason with a .886 save percentage and 3.56 GAA. With Woll away, Anthony Stolarz is expected to be the starter and rookie Dennis Hildeby — who has limited NHL experience — is likely to serve as the backup; the club did not pursue veteran insurance. The team also noted Woll had been ill during early training camp as preparations continue.