"20 people deep" Toronto Maple Leafs organization structure is heralding Joseph Woll's return, opines Darren Dreger

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Oct 24, 2024 08:20 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs are handling a complicated situation as they prepare for Joseph Woll’s possible return from injury. Coach Craig Berube mentioned that Woll could start against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but it is still unclear when he will make his debut this season.

Woll missed the first six games due to groin tightness, and the team is carefully considering his return.

TSN Analyst Darren Dreger, speaking on OverDrive on X, explained that the Toronto Maple Leafs have a complex process for handling player injuries.

The team's medical decisions involve multiple individuals. Trainers relay information to doctors, who then communicate with management. This layered approach means that getting one or two approvals may not suffice.

"Well, in Toronto, that that process is 20 people deep, right? So you might get sign off from one or two and then all of a sudden, it doesn't quite feel right. So three or four people say, 'now let's give it another couple of days and see if there's a response.

"Honestly, I think that Craig Berube and maybe even Brad Treliving, the general manager, are just waiting for the green light," Darren Dreger said.

Woll was expected to be ready for his first game against the Montreal Canadiens on October 9, but that did not happen.

Now, Dennis Hildeby will start against Columbus after a solid NHL debut. Hildeby has shown good composure, impressing the coaching staff.

As the team deals with this situation, they need to maintain a healthy roster with robust player management.

While fans look forward to Woll’s return, the organization is careful to make sure he is fully fit before he plays again. For now, Anthony Stolarz will back up Hildeby.

Maple Leafs struggle in 6-2 loss to Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets secured a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, with Mathieu Olivier leading the charge by scoring two goals.

Justin Danforth added to the excitement with a goal and two assists, while Sean Monahan, James van Riemsdyk, and Kirill Marchenko also found the net. Zach Werenski further bolstered the team's performance with two assists.

Toronto faced challenges throughout the game, managing just six shots in the first period. Although Matthew Knies and Nicholas Robertson found the net for the Maple Leafs, their efforts weren’t enough to shift the momentum.

“Neutral zone was the Autobahn for them tonight,” Matthews said (via NHL.com). “They were just coming in, flying through. We just got our butts handed to us a little bit. It's a busy week for us so there's no time to sulk over this.”

Next, the Maple Leafs will try to recover against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.