The Toronto Maple Leafs took a significant risk by extending Joseph Woll, and I believe the potential rewards don’t justify this gamble.
The Leafs had the right idea, but they seem stuck in a pattern of signing poor contracts. Even when they seem to make a good move, it turns out wrong.
Considering their limited window with Marner and Matthews at their peak, it’s crazy not to do whatever it takes to secure a top-tier, franchise-altering #1 goalie. The impact of a hot goalie on any team is substantial, and pairing one with Auston Matthews during his prime would be worth using all available assets.
![May 2, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Woll (60) makes a save against the Boston Bruins in the second period in game six of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4338,h_2440,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/121/01j2ydvgj45kmsdcr7cb.jpg)
However, the Leafs chose a different approach, opting to save their assets and cap space by making a value bet on the goalie position. While this isn’t necessarily a bad strategy, I don’t think the rewards will justify it.
Rewards do not Justify Risks of Joseph Woll Contract for the Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs signed Joseph Woll to a three-year deal with a team-friendly cap hit of $3.66 million. If Woll performs well, the Leafs will have a starting goalie on a bargain cap hit, offering potentially immense value in a league where top goalies earn between $8 and $10 million.
However, this contract isn’t long enough to justify the risk, and it inexplicably includes no-trade protection in the third year. While it’s only for eight teams and unlikely to be invoked if Woll remains on the roster, giving no-trade protection to an injury-prone player who has never played a full season seems unwise.
Currently, Joseph Woll isn’t worth $3.66 million; this contract is a bet on his future performance. In a cap league, teams need to make such bets, and the Leafs’ lack of success over the past eight years is directly related to their inability to get contract value out of their best players.