When the Toronto Maple Leafs' leading goalie, Joseph Woll, suffered a high-ankle sprain in early December, it posed a significant challenge for the team. Backup goalie Ilya Samsonov was underperforming, and third-stringer Martin Jones hadn't yet proven himself. However, Jones stepped up impressively during December and January, stabilizing the team's performance until Samsonov regained his form in January, helping the team exceed expectations in Woll's absence.
Woll has been practicing with the team for some time and recently went on a conditioning stint with the AHL's Marlies, where he performed exceptionally well, indicating his readiness to return. The Leafs are now considering their options, as reported by Elliotte Friedman on Hockey Night in Canada. The team is deliberating whether to maintain a three-goalie roster for the coming month and a half or to waive a goalie to make room for Woll. Given the strong performances of both Jones and Samsonov, waiving either seems unlikely, suggesting the Leafs might opt to carry three goalies or explore trade options to prevent losing a valuable asset for nothing. The decision-making process over the next 48 hours is expected to be crucial for the team's goaltending strategy moving forward.
