NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs - Source: Imagn — Elliotte Friedman weighs in on 'Toronto’s best prospect' Dennis Hildeby first call up amidst Joseph Woll's recent injury (IMAGN)

Elliotte Friedman weighs in on 'Toronto’s best prospect' Dennis Hildeby first call-up amidst Joseph Woll's recent injury

Modified Oct 10, 2024 16:31 GMT

With Joseph Woll nursing a lower-body injury, the Toronto Maple Leafs have called up rookie Dennis Hildeby, one of their top prospects. Hildeby had not even been on a professional team until the Leafs called him up for the opener.

The Maple Leafs committed to Woll as their number-one goalkeeper, but there has always been an injury risk with him. Top analyst Elliotte Friedman believes their caution is justified and likes that they're calling up the top prospect.

"Wisely, Toronto is being super careful with Joseph Woll," he said on his 32 Thoughts podcast. "He’s more than good enough to be a number one, but their biggest risk was his health. I liked their moves on defense and overall plan, bringing in a very competent compadre in Anthony Stolarz. But it hinges on Woll."

"Bob Gainey had a line: 'The problem with injury-prone players is that they tend to get injured.' That’s what he must avoid. We will see if Dennis Hildeby gets a shot, as the Maple Leafs open with three games in four days. Several observers said last season he was AHL Toronto’s best prospect," Friedman added.

Anthony Stolarz spent the majority of the time on the ice in goal, allowing one puck to get past him.

Max Pacioretty praises goalie in wake of Joseph Woll injury

Joseph Woll was removed from the lineup for the season opener for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was reportedly nursing a lower-body injury and the team wants to be cautious with their star investment.

They decided to promote Dennis Hildeby and start Anthony Stolarz, who received a lot of praise from Max Pacioretty before the game yesterday. The forward said via NHL:

“Really, really, really good goalie. The first couple of days [of training camp], I don’t think I scored a single goal on him, like the first four or five practices, it was starting to get me pretty upset. He’s massive in there. He’s really big, takes up a lot of net.”

If Woll misses an extended period of time, the Maple Leafs may be just fine in Pacioretty's eyes. In the opener, it was not a lack of goaltending but rather goal-scoring that cost the Leafs.