Joseph Woll Nears NHL Return After AHL Conditioning Stint with Marlies

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll is making significant strides in his AHL conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies, indicating a potential imminent return to the NHL. Woll made his season debut last Saturday for the Marlies against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, stopping 21 of 24 shots in a 3-2 loss. He is scheduled to start again on Wednesday against the Grand Rapids Griffins, with fans closely monitoring his performance as a final step before his NHL comeback. His return is crucial for the Maple Leafs, who have faced defensive challenges this season, allowing 65 goals—tied for the most in the NHL. Anthony Stolarz has shouldered a heavy workload, starting 12 of 15 games with a 6-5-1 record, a 3.35 goals-against average, and an .889 save percentage, highlighting the need for Woll's steady play to balance the team's goaltending tandem.