The Maple Leafs held a practice at Ford Performance Centre on Monday.
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For the first time since taking a leave of absence from the team early in training camp, Joseph Woll participated in a full practice. And the 27-year-old seems like his old self.
“He’s just been Joe,” said general manager Brad Treliving. “You guys have spent lots of time around him. He’s an upbeat guy. He’s such a caring person. I think it was great for the guys to see him. He’s a really popular teammate. Like, he’s really close with this group. So as good as it was for Joe to have the guys, it was good for the guys to have Joe back.”
“It was awesome just seeing his infectious smile,” said fellow goalie Anthony Stolarz. “We were just talking how we miss our goalie hugs.”
Woll, who led the Leafs with 41 starts last season, did not meet with the media on Monday.
“I’m not going to get into any of the issues with his leave,” Treliving said. “I’m going to leave that to Joe at a certain time, and he’ll speak with you. It won’t be today. We’re going to just let him get his feet under him, and when he’s comfortable to take that step, certainly he will.”
The Leafs announced on Sept. 23 that Woll was taking an indefinite leave of absence to attend to a personal/family matter. On Friday, the team announced Woll was coming back. Monday marked his first team practice since Sept. 19.
Woll has been skating every other day for the last couple of weeks, per Treliving. The general manager stressed the team will not rush things, but Woll is expected to be ready for game action relatively soon.
“I don’t think it’ll be too, too long,” Treliving said.
“I don’t have a date circled. I shouldn’t say that. I do have a date circled, but we’ll have to see what it is. You have plans, and then you alter them based upon how things are going.”
Leafs pumped to see Woll’s ‘infectious smile’ return to practice The Maple Leafs have been without goaltender Joseph Woll for the early part of the season as he has been away for personal reasons. The popular goaltender made his return to practice and his teammates were beaming at the return of their beloved netminder.
Treliving describes Woll’s conditioning levels as being “fabulous.”
“He’s a true pro so I don’t think it’ll take much time at all,” Stolarz said. “But I think the biggest thing is just the speed of the game and getting your hockey IQ back. I mean, obviously reading plays [in] mid-season, it comes second nature to you so you just kind of have to get that back.”
Treliving indicated that Woll will likely play in the American Hockey League on a conditioning stint before returning to the Leafs crease.
For now, though, the team is simply happy to have him back at practice.
“We’re pumped,” said centre John Tavares. “Just to have his presence, obviously his ability between the pipes, and certainly just who he is as a person and around the locker room, and you know, a big contributor to our group. So, yeah, awesome to have him back.”
Treliving says Leafs won’t rush Woll as goaltender returns to practice Joseph Woll was on the ice ahead of Leafs practice Monday morning and has not played this season after taking a leave of absence during training camp due to a family matter. General manager Brad Treliving spoke about the timeline for Woll’s return to game action and what it’s been like having him back in the room.
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The Leafs had one of the best goaltending tandems in the league last season as Toronto finished fourth in save percentage. Stolarz led the NHL with a .926 save percentage in 34 games.
With Woll away, Stolarz has started seven of nine games while posting an .885 save percentage.
“I know I have better,” Stolarz said. “I do feel good in there. I feel like I’m making some good saves, but I think, at the end of the day, I got to make one or two more a game.”
Stolarz, who had ice bags taped to his surgically-repaired knees following Friday’s game in Buffalo, insists his body is holding up just fine despite the heavy workload.
“My body feels good, everything’s great,” the 31-year-old said. “I prepared for this in the off-season. Obviously the numbers aren’t there for what I want, but it’s a long season.”
The Leafs decided to call up Dennis Hildeby from the AHL to dress as the back-up to Cayden Primeau on Saturday, which allowed Stolarz to get a full day off.
“Mental break for him,” coach Craig Berube said. “He was thrust into this situation with the Woll situation so he’s played a lot more than he’s normally used to playing.”
How did Stolarz spend his Saturday?
“I kind of took it easy,” he said. “Slept in a bit. Got to the rink and did some rehab stuff, did a little bike ride, and just kind of relaxed and watched the game. If anything, it was more of a mental break than physical. Like I said, the body feels great. You know, for me, I’m just excited to get back out there.”
Stolarz is expected to start Tuesday’s game against the Calgary Flames.
Mental break on weekend allowed Stolarz to reset amid heavier workload Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz has had a heavier workload than expected early this season but he was given a much-needed rest day Saturday. Stolarz spoke about what his weekend was like not having to dress and how he feels overall this season.
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After missing Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury, William Nylander rotated in on the top line beside Auston Matthews and Bobby McMann at Monday’s practice.
“I’m glad he stayed out there the whole practice and participated, which is good,” Berube said. “That’s good news. I think obviously he’s getting better. We’ll see where he’s at tomorrow morning.”
Nylander has recorded a point in 10 straight games against the Flames. If the Calgary-born winger is unable to play on Tuesday, Nick Robertson is set to fill in again on the top line.
Robertson scored Toronto’s opening goal on Saturday and Berube liked what he saw from the line.
“Speed,” the coach said. “A lot of speed on the wings, getting on top of people. It was a good goal by Nicky coming off the bench and finding that hole there … Nicky’s got speed, Bobby’s got speed, Matthews’ got speed, so it’s a fast line.”
Robertson took the first reps on the first line at Monday’s practice while Nylander watched from the side boards.
Leafs Ice Chips: Nylander at practice, but status for Tuesday up in the air William Nylander was a full participant at Monday’s practice after missing Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury, but head coach Craig Berube was unable to say if his forward would play in Tuesday’s game against the Flames. TSN’s Mark Masters has more on what he observed from the morning skate.
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Nylander took rushes beside Matthews and McMann during warm-ups on Saturday night before being a late scratch.
Robertson received a heads up from assistant coach Marc Savard about the possibility of filling in on the top line earlier in the day, but only found out it was happening 10 minutes before puck drop. He responded by scoring his first goal of the season.
“Good to get my confidence up,” he said. “Obviously getting one feels really good.”
Robertson, who finished seventh on the team with 15 goals last season, noted that the rare opportunity to play beside Matthews in the top six allowed him to get in a rhythm quickly.
“Just a little more puck touches,” the 24-year-old said. “I mean, it was so much easier to get in the game and such a talented player. And playing with Bob too, it makes it so much easier and kind of getting in the game and feeling good about it.”
Robertson logged 14 minutes and 54 seconds on Saturday, which was a bump up from his season average of 11 minutes and 30 seconds.
Robertson posted just one assist through the first seven games and was a healthy scratch for the first time this season on Friday. He has now scored five goals in his last six games following a healthy scratch.
“You guys know it’s not a situation that I’m foreign to,” he said. “Just got to come in and obviously [the teams] played a back-to-back so I have [more] energy and have that advantage. Wanted to come into the game and play with a lot of energy, and fortunate to get that one.”
With Nylander out, Robertson makes most of chance beside Matthews Nick Robertson only found out he would be playing on the Leafs top line beside Auston Matthews 10 minutes before Saturday’s game when William Nylander was ruled out. Robertson, who was a healthy scratch on Friday, made the most of the opportunity by scoring Toronto’s opening goal.
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Tavares scored the overtime winner on Saturday night to pull within one goal of 500 for his career. The Oakville, Ont. native will have a chance to hit the milestone on Tuesday in Toronto before the Leafs embark on a two-game road trip.
“Obviously it would be great to get it,” he said. “But I’m trying not to make it the focus of my game.”
Will he have more friends and family than usual in attendance on Tuesday?
“Might be a good possibility,” he said. “But just trying to approach it like I have and go out there and play my game and just be in the moment.”
Tavares has created a series of routines to ensure he’s ready for every game and every moment.
“It’s crazy,” said Primeau, who was picked up off waivers at the start of the season. “When we’re on the road, he brings a big extra suitcase of things to make sure that he’s doing the right things.”
The Leafs will open a two-game trip in Columbus on Wednesday. What will Tavares have in his extra suitcase?
“Last year I started just bringing my pillow, so it takes up a little bit of room,” Tavares revealed with a smile. “Just try to keep things consistent as best I can.”
“He’s always got some gadgets in there,” Stolarz said. “He’s got a little back support one that he brings around. It’s always funny [because] something new comes out, some sort of technology, and he’s got it.”
With a 500-goal milestone on tap, Tavares still inspiring teammates with his habits John Tavares is sitting on 499 career NHL goals but he’s trying not to let that be the main focus of his game Tuesday against the Flames. Tavares’ longevity has been aided by his good habits, some of which have sparked some respectful laughs from his teammates.
Last week, Berube told a story about groceries intended for Tavares being accidentally delivered to his hotel room. The coach wondered who would want some of the stuff Tavares had ordered.
“It was a lot of water,” Tavares clarified. “It wasn’t a lot of food, but it was some hydration. We were in one spot, I think, for a few days, so I was just kind of stocking up and getting a few things that you like to have. I’m not the only one that cares what kind of water, what kind of things they like to drink and hydrate [with], and how they take care of themselves.”
Fair enough. But it’s clear that Tavares has the work ethic to match his God-give talent. He’s doing everything he can to fend off Father Time and remain productive even as he starts his 17th NHL season at age 35.
“It’s like a fine wine,” Treliving said. “He gets better with age, but it’s not by accident. The work he puts in, the preparation he puts in is second to none, to any athlete I’ve been around.”
An example of the hard work paying off came on Saturday night when Tavares blasted a shot past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in overtime.
“He’s been working on that shot quite a bit,” Primeau said. “I stayed out with him a couple days ago after practice, and, you know, he was doing the same stuff. He’s just always working on his craft.”
Tavares is poised to become only the 49th player to join the 500-goal club in NHL history.
“He certainly made me a lot better pro, just being around him, watching him, how he goes through his process,” said defenceman Jake McCabe. “It’s quite impressive. I know we always talk about it, but he’s just Mr. Steady every single year, and to have that in your room as a leader is super crucial for our team, and we certainly don’t take it for granted.”
It’s been an uneven start for the Leafs who are 4-4-1 through nine games, but Tavares continues to produce. He’s up to five goals and 12 points, which is second on the team.
“You don’t really need to coach him,” said Berube. “He’s so professional and dedicated and you know he loves the Leafs. He loves the team and he just he just comes to work every night. He doesn’t ever take a night off. He doesn’t take a day off. Like, he’s always just doing his thing working, highly competitive out there and you know it’s great to be able to coach a guy like that.”
Tavares doesn’t take a day off, but he did enjoy a night off on Saturday. After freezing the clock in overtime at Scotiabank Arena, Tavares headed down the street to watch Game 2 of the World Series.
“It was awesome,” he said. “It was some real good energy early, [the Jays] tied it up, and then both great pitchers settled in and got into a rhythm. A lot of tension. Unfortunately they got behind, you know, in the later innings, and just kind of had the feeling that [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto was going to be really tough to get to. But all throughout it, I thought the crowd, the fans, the city was fantastic, and, you know, gave [Kevin] Gausman a great salute when he came out of the game. Unfortunately couldn’t really get too much going to get a rally, but obviously playing a really good team, and that’s the World Series. It should be a hell of a series. I’m excited to watch tonight.”
‘Mr. Steady’: OT hero Tavares celebrates Leafs win by cheering on Jays After scoring the OT winner on Saturday, Leafs centre John Tavares headed down the street to cheer on the Jays in the World Series. Tavares is now just one goal away from 500 in his career. “Just Mr. Steady every single year,” said defenceman Jake McCabe.
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Berube felt his team played “a little bit pissed off” on Saturday night. Why?
“We’ve lost three in a row,” the coach said. “That is probably why. If I lost three in a row when I was playing, I guarantee I would’ve gotten into two fights.”
McCabe didn’t have two fights, but he did have one. After dropping Bowen Byram with a big hit, McCabe quickly shed his gloves and dropped Alex Tuch, who came over to confront the 32-year-old defenceman. Tuch was assessed a penalty for instigating the fight, so Toronto ended up getting a power play out of the sequence.
“He brings a lot of emotion and certainly physicality, no question,” Tavares said of McCabe. “I mean, he’s got a great all-around game, but whether it’s blocking shots, taking the body, he just kinda lays it all on the line.”
McCabe felt the Leafs lacked physicality early in the year.
“I’m certainly guilty of it too, through the first, you know, five, six games,” he said. “I think at the beginning of the year, sometimes you kind of dip your toe in the water rather than jumping full in. [I] made it a mission here the last couple nights to bring that side of my game out a little bit more. I certainly play better [when I’m physical] and I know my teammates feed off it as well. So, just try to bring that emotion and energy and competitiveness and, you know, something that we need when you’re not collecting points.”
After the Leafs collected two points on Saturday night, McCabe received the team’s player-of-the-game belt from Stolarz.
McCabe landed five hits and led the team with 11 blocked shots during the pair of games against Buffalo over the weekend.
“It’s huge,” said Robertson. “I mean, we need that. We need the energy. We need that grittiness. He had a big hit and a good fight and he played a great game.”
‘Lays it all on the line’: McCabe on mission to make Leafs more physical With the Leafs scuffling to start the season, defenceman Jake McCabe made it his mission to play more physicality and bring more energy to the team. After dropping the gloves with Alex Tuch on Saturday, McCabe was given the team’s player-of-the-game belt.
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The Leafs are still trying to find the right mix on the back end without Chris Tanev, who has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury.
“It’s been all right,” said defenceman Morgan Rielly. “I mean, I don’t think you replace Taney. Other guys have to take on more responsibility and adjust their roles a little bit. And, as we go here, that’ll be a work in progress. But I think we’re doing a good job. I think we have open communication back there. We’re playing with different guys and, you know, different sides and stuff, so there’s a little bit of an adjustment there, but it’s really nothing we can’t handle.”
Rielly, who missed Friday’s game with an undisclosed injury, was paired with Philippe Myers at Monday’s practice. McCabe skated with Simon Benoit while Oliver Ekman-Larsson linked up with Brandon Carlo.
Tanev skated on his own before practice. He will miss the back-to-back set on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Scott Laughton (foot) joined Tanev on the ice before practice. Berube said Laughton may be ready to return to practice on Friday.
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Calle Jarnkrok missed practice due to a lower-body injury. Berube said the veteran winger is considered day-to-day and has not been ruled out of Tuesday’s game.
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Lines at Monday’s practice:
McMann – Matthews – Robertson/Nylander
Knies – Tavares – Maccelli
Joshua – Roy – Cowan
Lorentz – Domi – Blais
Benoit – McCabe
Rielly – Myers
Ekman-Larsson – Carlo
Mermis
Stolarz
Primeau
Woll
Power play units at Monday’s practice:
QB: Rielly
Flanks: Matthews, Nylander
Middle: Tavares
Net front: Knies
QB: Ekman-Larsson
Flanks: Domi, Maccelli
Middle: Robertson/Cowan
Net front: McMann
