Former NHL goaltender raves about Leafs' Joseph Woll, compares him to a top Western Conference goalie
For the first time in a long time, the Leafs are entering a season without a question mark looming in goal. When healthy, the Leafs have 3 goalies they can be comfortable playing on any given night. In reality, it's likely Matt Murray doesn't suit up for the Leafs next season. He showed flashes of brilliance last season, but ultimately couldn't stay healthy and saw his play drop off considerably as he battled injury. The team will look to move on from him if they can.
Ilya Samsonov is an RFA in need of a new contract after betting on himself by signing a 1 year deal last season. The Leafs would be smart to retain him, as he was their best and most consistent netminder in 2022-23. They also have Joseph Woll, by far the most interesting of the three, and possibly a long-term solution between the pipes.
Woll played 7 games for the Leafs in the regular season. They won all but one of those games. His .932 sv% was stellar and when called upon in the playoffs, Woll acquitted himself well. He's proven he's too good for the AHL, as evidenced by the 11-game win streak he put up with the Toronto Marlies last season. The big issue for the Leafs is that beginning next season, he is no longer waiver exempt, which means that any attempt to send him down to the minors will almost certainly end in a waiver claim.
Woll is signed for 2 more seasons at a bargain cap hit of $766,667 per season. The Leafs need to take advantage of the fact they have a goalie this good on a contract this cheap. Speaking on TSN1050's Leafs Lunch this afternoon, former NHL goalie Mike McKenna had high praise for Woll, and also made a comparison that should have Leafs fans excited about the future of their 2016 2nd round pick.
Make no mistake, Oettinger is part of a groups of elite young goaltenders slowly taking over for the old guard of the NHL. If Woll is able to develop into a goaltender of the same caliber, the Leafs will be set between the pipes for, presumanly, the next decade.
Between Woll (24) and Samsonov (26), the future of the Leafs in net is extremely bright. At the very least, it's one less thing for new GM Brad Treliving to worry about this off-season.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 6 | 419 ANSWERS Former NHL goaltender raves about Leafs' Joseph Woll, compares him to a top Western Conference goalie Who will the Leafs' starting goaltender be on opening night of the 2023-24 season? | ||
| Woll | 101 | 24.1 % |
| Samsonov | 254 | 60.6 % |
| Murray | 7 | 1.7 % |
| Someone not currently with the team | 57 | 13.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
