The Toronto Maple Leafs are grappling with several injuries, and the latest update brought no relief regarding John Tavares and Joseph Woll, as both missed practice.
Woll and Tavares now join a growing list of injured players, including Calle Jarnkrok, Fraser Minten, Jani Hakanpaa, and Connor Dewar. While head coach Craig Berube expressed optimism about Woll’s recovery, stating he had shown improvement recently, the timeline for his return remains uncertain.
Monday’s practice painted a concerning picture, with both Woll and Tavares absent. The vagueness surrounding Woll’s “lower-body tightness” leaves much to speculation, as it could range from a minor muscle pull to something more serious. It’s also worrying that Woll hasn’t been seen skating, especially given his limited action in the preseason. With his injury history, there’s concern about whether he’s fully prepared to reclaim the starting goalie role upon his return or if he may have aggravated a previous issue.
Tavares’ absence was more expected, as he had already missed Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh due to illness. There’s no update yet on whether he’ll be ready for the upcoming game against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, but the Leafs could certainly use his presence to maintain their slowly building momentum.
While Berube has some goaltending options to fill in for Woll, the loss of Tavares is equally significant. His ability to control the pace of the game is crucial to the Leafs’ success.
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