Goaltender Joseph Woll has shown moments of exceptional play in his brief NHL career, and the Toronto Maple Leafs may have finally found the key to achieving playoff success. For years, the team has struggled to find a reliable goaltender to complement their talented forwards. During the Auston Matthews era, the Leafs have cycled through Frederik Andersen, Jack Campbell, Matt Murray, and Ilya Samsonov, yet none have managed to lead the team to significant postseason success.
The potential breakthrough may now be at hand with Joseph Woll, whom the Maple Leafs selected in the third round of the 2016 NHL Draft (62nd overall). Despite his limited NHL experience, Woll has displayed considerable promise. Recognizing his potential, the Maple Leafs chose not to pursue a veteran goaltender during the offseason. Instead, they signed Woll to a three-year extension, reflecting their confidence in his future.
Woll’s new contract, which carries an average annual value of $3.67 million, represents a substantial increase from his previous entry-level deal, which had an AAV of $766,667 and is set to expire at the end of this season. This represents a significant commitment to a relatively inexperienced goaltender with only 36 NHL games under his belt. The Leafs are clearly betting on Woll’s potential, hoping he will evolve into their long-term solution in goal.
One of Woll’s biggest challenges has been maintaining his health. If he can stay injury-free with improved support from the team’s strength and conditioning staff, he could become a major asset. The ideal scenario would see Woll as the team’s number-one goaltender through the 2027-2028 season, aligning with the end of Matthews’ current contract. Despite his contract’s relatively modest size compared to top NHL goalies, this economic efficiency could allow the Leafs to allocate more resources to other areas of their roster.
Woll’s performances, particularly in the playoffs, have been inspiring. His composed presence has instilled confidence in the team, especially notable during last season’s first-round series against the Boston Bruins. Woll stepped up significantly, almost helping the Leafs overcome a 3-1 deficit, and was instrumental in securing back-to-back victories in Games 5 and 6. Previous Leafs goalies had often faltered, with soft goals undermining their postseason efforts—Andersen, Campbell, and Samsonov each had crucial missteps in past playoff games.
In contrast, Woll managed to outplay the Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman, a notable achievement that contributed to forcing a seventh game. His playoff performance was exceptional, ranking sixth in goals-saved-above-expected and leading in goals-saved-above-expected-per-60, according to Moneypuck.com.
Woll’s regular-season statistics are also promising, with a career .912 save percentage and positive GSAA (goals-saved-above-average) over three seasons. The Maple Leafs have wisely recognized his potential, acknowledging that he elevates his play when it counts the most.
Keeping Woll healthy will be crucial for the team’s success this season. His ability to solidify his role as the Maple Leafs’ starter could be pivotal in their pursuit of top positions in their division or the Eastern Conference. If Woll can reach his potential as a top-ten NHL goaltender, it opens up exciting possibilities for the Leafs’ future.
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