Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll comments on where he feels his game is at
Joseph Woll was drafted in the 2016 draft by the Leafs, but prior to this season, he had only played in 11 regular season games for the Leafs. Following three seasons at Boston College after being drafted, Woll ran into a slew of injuries once he turned pro. From shoulder issues to hip and groin issues, Woll spent more time rehabbing and recovering than he did playing, until last year when he was a star in the regular season for both the Marlies and Leafs. His play last season is what made the Leafs comfortable enough to give the 25-year-old the backup job without any hesitation or competition.
Seven years after being drafted, he attended his first NHL training camp Speaking with Sportsnet's Luke Fox, Woll was asked about his long journey to full-time NHLer and if he believes he should've been in the position sooner.
"No, I think it's perfectly on time. I don't think I was ready to be at this point a year ago, two years ago. Every experience I've been afforded has made me ready. This year, it just feels like all the experiences I've had recently have prepared me for this. I feel ready."
Woll, who spent his summer off the grid in the Alps, has changed his approach over the past few seasons finding ways to remain calm and not flustered when things are not going his way. Those changes, along with his athletic ability, have finally given him the opportunity he and the Leafs were hoping for.
The Leafs haven't had a "homegrown" netminder since James Reimer and are hopeful that Woll is a long-term option for them. So far this season, he looks to be gaining momentum and putting the pressure on Ilya Samsonov for the starting role. Woll will look to continue to pressure Samsonov for more starts tomorrow as he is slated to start against Washington after stopping all 29 shots in relief of Samsonov on Saturday against Tampa.
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