Joseph Woll's return to Maple Leafs has gone from a desire to a need

"It's been a nightmarish start to the year for Stolarz, who signed a four-year extension with the Maple Leafs ahead of the season. Poor performance immediately after signing a new contract is never ideal and will put more eyeballs on you than usual, but it's too early to say that Stolarz duped the team and got paid more than he's worth."

"More likely is the reality that Stolarz is exactly what he's paid to be, which is a good tandem goaltender, and he's probably played too much over the past month. He may have been able to thrive in a similar situation last season but doing it once doesn't mean it's going to be a given every time, and the reality is that he's already played a third of the games he did by the end of last season."

Joseph Woll missed the start of the season again, forcing Anthony Stolarz to absorb most starts and shoulder a heavy workload. Stolarz signed a four-year extension before the season and has struggled early, with poor performance increasing scrutiny but unlikely to indicate long-term decline. The workload likely exceeded what a tandem goaltender should handle, contributing to fatigue and a reported injury that leaves Dennis Hildeby as the only immediate option. Joseph Woll's impending return would provide necessary relief. Stolarz's mental resilience suggests struggles may be temporary, but rest and rotation are needed.

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