Quick Shifts: Why the Maple Leafs believe Joseph Woll is ready - Sportsnet.ca
The Toronto Maple Leafs electing to start NHL newbie Joseph Woll Saturday in Buffalo can be seen as both an indictment of third-string journeyman Michael Hutchinson (who is still searching for a win at either the NHL or AHL level this season) and an endorsement of that hardworking, affable kid they drafted in this same arena back in 2016 — 61 picks after selecting Auston Matthews.
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And when Petr Mrazek was felled (again) by a pulled groin, it was Woll, not Hutchinson, who was recalled Sunday to stare down extra shots from Matthews and William Nylander all week.
"The big thing, as an organization, is that we really believe in him. We believe in his talent," says coach Sheldon Keefe. "In an ideal world, you would want him to get on a roll with the Marlies. As it turns out, there's an opportunity here."
Keefe was playing Saturday's starter card close to the vest — 25-year-old Swedish import Erik Kallgren was also an option, and his Marlies numbers are better than Woll's — but quietly let Woll know midweek that he'd be making the Show.
The St. Louis native is tight with his family. He said his first call would be to Mom once he found out he was getting a start.
“However you can get a special goaltender — whether drafted or traded for — it’s a big thing. The Leafs historically have had a lot of great goaltenders, from Johnny Bower,” a fresh-faced Woll said during a development camp.
“To start for the Maple Leafs, that’s my goal. I want to play here, and I want to be a guy who can lead this team to a Stanley Cup.”
Toronto is downplaying Woll's numbers. The 23-year-old holds a career 20-24-3 record for the Marlies and has yet to post a save percentage above .895 in any of his three part seasons.
Yet Woll believes the difficulty of jumping from college stud to rollercoaster pro has helped him learn some hard lessons, to work on both his mental and technical game.
“If they call on me, I’ll be ready. I’ve put a lot of work in. I feel confident in myself, and I feel confident in this group. It’s been a lot of development," Woll said this week.
“It’s been a long road, and I feel ready."
“It’d be pretty cool if everyone in my life could come and support me. That’d be sweet.”
The Toronto Maple Leafs electing to start NHL newbie Joseph Woll Saturday in Buffalo can be seen as both an indictment of third-string journeyman Michael Hutchinson (who is still searching for a win at either the NHL or AHL level this season) and an endorsement of that hardworking, affable kid they drafted in this same arena back in 2016 — 61 picks after selecting Auston Matthews.
.............................
And when Petr Mrazek was felled (again) by a pulled groin, it was Woll, not Hutchinson, who was recalled Sunday to stare down extra shots from Matthews and William Nylander all week.
"The big thing, as an organization, is that we really believe in him. We believe in his talent," says coach Sheldon Keefe. "In an ideal world, you would want him to get on a roll with the Marlies. As it turns out, there's an opportunity here."
Keefe was playing Saturday's starter card close to the vest — 25-year-old Swedish import Erik Kallgren was also an option, and his Marlies numbers are better than Woll's — but quietly let Woll know midweek that he'd be making the Show.
The St. Louis native is tight with his family. He said his first call would be to Mom once he found out he was getting a start.
“However you can get a special goaltender — whether drafted or traded for — it’s a big thing. The Leafs historically have had a lot of great goaltenders, from Johnny Bower,” a fresh-faced Woll said during a development camp.
“To start for the Maple Leafs, that’s my goal. I want to play here, and I want to be a guy who can lead this team to a Stanley Cup.”
Toronto is downplaying Woll's numbers. The 23-year-old holds a career 20-24-3 record for the Marlies and has yet to post a save percentage above .895 in any of his three part seasons.
Yet Woll believes the difficulty of jumping from college stud to rollercoaster pro has helped him learn some hard lessons, to work on both his mental and technical game.
“If they call on me, I’ll be ready. I’ve put a lot of work in. I feel confident in myself, and I feel confident in this group. It’s been a lot of development," Woll said this week.
“It’s been a long road, and I feel ready."
“It’d be pretty cool if everyone in my life could come and support me. That’d be sweet.”
