Leafs call up Dennis Hildeby as Joseph Woll appears to be injured per insider Elliotte Friedman
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Samer Dagher
Oct 9, 2024 (10:11)
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Photo credit: The Hockey Writers
Insider Elliotte Friedman has hinted at a possible injury to a Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender following news of a surprising roster move.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' 2024-25 NHL season kicks off tonight in Montreal against the Canadiens. This will be Craig Berube's first game as Leafs head coach and Auston Matthews' debut as team captain. Toronto will be eager to start the season strong with a win for both of them.
Getting off to a good start is important for a new coach, but it might not be as easy as expected. The Canadiens, despite Patrik Laine's injury, are better than last year, with young talent like Lane Hutson and the return of Kirby Dach, who is expected to play a key role.
Adding to the challenge, Friedman reports that the Leafs are likely to call up goalie Dennis Hildeby from the AHL for tonight's game.
This suggests that either Anthony Stolarz or Joseph Woll could be dealing with an injury.
Woll, who missed game seven of last year's first-round playoffs due to an injury, was reportedly healthy after a good summer. General Manager Brad Treliving recently commented on Woll's progress, expressing optimism about his fitness but acknowledging that injuries can still happen.
"He's had a really good summer. He's really fit. We, you know, looked at some different things in terms of his mechanics and all those types of things and core. But he's always been dialed in with that. So, yeah, he's put in all the work. We're hopeful he can stay healthy. Stuff happens, but he's looked real good."
"Well, guys can get hurt, right? Like, that happens, you know. I don't know. We hopefully spent lots of time on working at it, but that doesn't mean, you know, sometimes luck runs in the way, right? "
If the Leafs do call up Hildeby, we should expect an official update before the game. Stay tuned for more details as the situation unfolds.
UPDATE
Just in, Anthony Stolarz will start tonight's game against the Montreal Canadiens as Joseph Woll is dealing with a lower-body injury.
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