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The Toronto Maple Leafs face some good news and bad news regarding the timelines of several injured players this season.
The injury bug has hit the Toronto Maple Leafs hard this season. The club has lost both of its top goalies and faces a depleted blue line. Still, the team has finally gotten on a roll and could be poised to finally make headway in the standings.
But instead of discussing where the Leafs may be headed in the standings, the chatter has been around Joseph Woll. Woll’s latest injury setback has been the hot-button topic over the last 24 to 48 hours in Leafs Nation.
That situation prompted an in-depth discussion with insider Darren Dreger on Friday. Dreger spoke with Aaron Korolnek and Carlo Colaiacovo on the Maple Leafs’ injury situation. Dreger drilled down on Woll’s injury, being a left hip issue. He referenced this shot by the TSN broadcast:
Woll didn’t come out for the third
was shaking his left leg after this save
That being said, Dreger and Korolnek speculated that Woll’s injury may not be as bad as it seems. Woll was not seen following Thursday night’s game on crutches or showing any visible signs of treatment.
So, there is some hope that the injury is not nearly as severe. As Dreger put it, the Maple Leafs hope it’s just a “short, short-term thing.”
That will be crucial for the team as Anthony Stolarz is nowhere near returning. Dreger stated that Stolarz “hasn’t been seen for a while,” and that “they may have found something.” Those comments are no bueno for a team that bet heavily on their tandem at the beginning of the season.
In the meantime, the crease will belong to Dennis Hildeby. The young netminder will get the call on Saturday night against Montreal. Unless Woll has a miraculous recovery, it’s Hildeby’s show for now.
Maple Leafs Blueliner Undergoing Further Testing
Dreger provided an update on Maple Leafs blueliner Chris Tanev. Dreger reported that Tanev is getting closer to a return to the ice. He’s undergoing further testing and evaluation. Tanev has been out of the lineup since November 1 after likely sustaining a concussion.
Tanev has only played eight games this season, recording two assists. While there’s no firm timeline for his return, there could be some encouraging news in the coming days. The Maple Leafs have missed their best shutdown defenseman. But if he gets the all-clear, he could be making his return to the lineup sooner rather than later.
Toronto Does Not Get Good News on Carlo
In contrast, the Maple Leafs did not get good news on another injured blueliner. Brandon Carlo’s timeline has moved to week-to-week, as Dreger discussed. Carlo has also missed significant time this season. The veteran blueliner could be getting surgery to repair whatever issue plagues him at the moment.
Carlo could land on LTIR if surgery is necessary. Since there is no further information, the speculation is that Carlo could be out for quite some time. Carlo has played 18 games this season, registering two assists. He last hit the ice on November 18 against the LA Kings.
The talk is that Carlo had been playing through an injury. Unfortunately, the ailment was serious enough to warrant him missing time this season.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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