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Woll suffered a lower-body injury during the Leafs’ 5-1 victory in Carolina against the Hurricanes on Thursday and was replaced by Dennis Hildeby after the second period.
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Published Dec 06, 2025 • Last updated 38 minutes ago • 3 minute read
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Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) watches the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Karl B DeBlaker /APArticle content
The Maple Leafs have placed goaltender Joseph Woll on injured reserve.
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Woll suffered a lower-body injury during the Leafs’ 5-1 victory in Carolina against the Hurricanes on Thursday and was replaced by Dennis Hildeby after the second period.
The Leafs also announced on Saturday morning that they have recalled goalie Artur Akhtyamov from the Toronto Marlies. Woll’s IR status is retroactive to Dec. 4.
“He’ll be a week, hopefully (nothing more),” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “That’s right now. That’s where he’s at.
“Better would be that he’s ready to go tonight. That’s not the case. We’re not expecting it to be too long.”
What does the Woll absence mean?
It’s an understatement to say the situation is less than ideal. With Anthony Stolarz already out and with no clear indication as to when he might return, it’s Hildeby’s time to shine. The 24-year-old doesn’t have much choice.
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Going into the Leafs’ home game on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens, Hildeby is 1-2-1 with the Leafs in 2025-26, posting a .919 save percentage and a 2.86 goals-against average.
After Saturday, the Leafs’ five-game home stand continues against Tampa Bay on Monday and San Jose on Thursday.
“I’m just going to focus on Dennis going tonight,” Berube said. “We’ll play it by ear after that. There’s a possibility that he could go the distance.”
Stolarz has not played since Nov. 11, when he suffered an upper-body injury in a game against the Boston Bruins.
If there was concern in the Leafs dressing room about going forward without the team’s top two goalies, it was being hidden well.
We think there would be a mental challenge for the group. Not so, Berube and several players said.
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“I’ve been around long enough, been four or five goalies deep on a team before,” defenceman Jake McCabe said. “You’ve seen it. Once you live it, it’s no big deal. Guys go down, you just have to figure it out.”
Said Berube: “I don’t think the mindset changes. I don’t think much changes with our game (depending) on who’s in net. Dennis has played well for us.”
Let’s keep in mind the most crucial of factors: A three-game winning streak has put the Leafs in a better spot, but they still were two points behind the Canadiens for third place in the Atlantic Division through games on Friday, and were four points out of the second wildcard spot in the East.
The Leafs are immersed in a major playoff battle right now, and we don’t expect that to change any time soon.
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Goaltending that is anything less than sharp won’t cut it.
Should Treliving be looking for help?
Leafs general manager Brad Treliving absolutely should be trying to acquire a veteran goalie, whether via trade or waivers.
Let’s say Toronto finds itself in a worst-case scenario. That would be that Woll is out longer than expected and Hildeby either struggles or gets injured. No one who is being reasonable would expect Akhtyamov to take over and be successful.
He’s too green.
In 12 games with the Marlies, Akhtyamov is 7-5-0 with an .896 save percentage and a 3.04 goals-against average.
The requirement of a veteran presence is why the Leafs claimed Cayden Primeau off waivers from the Hurricanes in October, only to see Primeau get claimed by Carolina early in November.
And before that, it was why the Leafs had James Reimer in training camp on a professional tryout.
Last year, it was Matt Murray who was on hand at a moment’s notice.
Goalies such as Laurent Brossoit, Alex Lyon, Elvis Merzlikins and Ville Husso could be available.
The pressure should be on Treliving to get something done.
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