The Toronto Maple Leafs have gotten a huge boost in the goaltending department since Ilya Samsonov returned from his absence and they will get another boost following the All-Star break when Joseph Woll is expected to return. While head coach Sheldon Keefe revealed that there is still no timetable for Woll to return to game action, he is expecting the netminder to return to full practice when the Leafs resume skating next Monday.
Woll suffered a high-ankle sprain early in December in the third period of a game against the Ottawa Senators. He resumed skating a couple of weeks ago, but the Leafs have been very cautious with him. With the way that Samsonov had been playing, there was a thought that the Leafs may rush Woll back into the net to provide some relief for Martin Jones, who had done an admirable job holding down the fort. That appears to no longer be the case and it will give the Leafs time to sort out their roster ahead of Woll's return.
According to Sportsnet's Luke Fox, the Leafs may go an unorthodox route upon Woll's return as they fear they will lose Jones on waivers. Fox has reported that the Leafs are likely to carry three goaltenders when Woll returns to not only prevent Jones from being claimed on waivers, but to give Dennis Hildeby and Keith Petruzzelli a heavier workload with the Marlies and continue their development.
Carrying three goalies won't be an issue for the Leafs given the cap hits of Jones and Woll, but it will force them to send one of Willliam Lagesson, Bobby McMann, Pontus Holmberg or Nick Robertson down to the Marlies to clear the space to accommodate Woll. The move would force the Leafs to carry just 20 skaters and limit Sheldon Keefe's options when it comes to lineup decisions, but it is something that many fans would prefer, as they do not want to risk losing Jones on waivers.
