Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll thanked his teammates and general manager Brad Treliving for respecting his privacy during a personal leave of absence.

Woll held his first media availability Friday at the Ford Performance Centre since being granted a leave of absence from the team on September 23.

Before taking questions from reporters, Woll delivered his opening statement:

Woll did not answer questions related to his leave of absence, but will likely get some reps in with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies first as the Leafs host the Boston Bruins on Saturday, then play the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. He has been skating since October 24.

“I think pace is something that I’ve found that is important to get up, you know, especially if you’re coming off an offseason,” Woll said. “So pace is a big one then. I just think also there’s an eagerness to get back out there and had enough idle time and sitting around and don’t want to be practicing too long and stuff like that. I just want to get out and get going.

Anthony Stolarz is projected to start Saturday’s game, and is thrilled that his running mate is back with the team.

“It’s great to have him back. I’ve  said before, we have an unbelievable relationship,” Stolarz said of Woll on Friday. “ To have him around us again and that competitive nature that he brings to our team and his high energy, it’s nice to have back in the room.  As a goalie, you’re always supporting each other and whatnot. So I think to have him back is huge for not just the team, but me as well.”

Woll’s return to the Maple Leafs is a massive boost, especially as the team looks to reduce Stolarz’s workload. It’s a welcome development, and it’s clear that Woll’s presence at practices has reinvigorated the group, amid a three-game winning streak.