Leafs injury updates: Brandon Carlo underwent foot surgery on December 3, out indefinitely. Chris Tanev will receive a second opinion. Joseph Woll is close to returning, but won't play vs. Oilers Anthony Stolarz isn't close to returning, but it's not season-ending.
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Leafs injury news: Carlo underwent foot surgery, Stolarz out indefinitely, Woll won’t play vs. Oilers
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
Dec 12, 2025, 13:15 ESTUpdated: Dec 12, 2025, 13:12 EST
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube provided several injury updates following Friday’s optional practice at the Ford Performance Centre.
Brandon Carlo underwent foot surgery on December 3 and is out indefinitely. Carlo hasn’t played since November 13 against the Los Angeles Kings.
“At some point, he’ll be able to get on the ice and skate. I don’t know that timeline right now,” Berube said.
Chris Tanev will receive a second opinion for an upper-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup since November 2. Tanev sustained the injury during a November 1 game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The veteran defenceman skated in a red non-contact jersey on Friday.
Joseph Woll won’t play against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, but Berube believes he’s trending in the right direction. Woll was a participant in Friday’s practice.
“He keeps progressing the right way here like he has been, he could be a possibility, in my opinion,” Berube said.
Woll spoke to reporters Friday, while praising Dennis Hildeby for his excellent work while being thrust into the starter’s role.
“It’s disappointing to not be able to continue playing,” Woll said. “But I think the real positive is that (Hildeby) has been playing great for us, and I think the team has been playing well. Really tight games that are going either way. So I’m just looking forward to being back.”
Woll also offered high praise to Artur Akhtyamov, who is serving as Hildeby’s backup.
“From the first time I saw him, I thought he was sick,” Woll said of Akhtyamov. “He’s a good goalie, man, you watch him out there. I don’t know, the Russians are feeding their guys something different, he’s great. So it’s been fun out there with him, super laid back guy who’s always smiling.”
“Not bad. Tomorrow, we’ll know. Hopefully, he can get on the ice and see how he feels, and we’ll go from there,” Berube said of Ekman-Larsson.
Anthony Stolarz isn’t close to returning to action from an upper-body injury that he sustained during a November 11 game against the Boston Bruins.
“I wouldn’t go there, but he’s not going to be on the ice anytime soon,” Berube said, when asked if Stolarz suffered a season-ending injury.
Marshall Rifai is closer to returning to action, after undergoing wrist surgery in September. Rifai skated in a regular black practice jersey on Friday, and could be a potential option for the Leafs with several injuries to their defence corps.
Leafs injury updates cont'd: Oliver Ekman-Larsson will need to skate tomorrow before Berube can confirm his place in the lineup Saturday vs. Oilers. Marshall Rifai is closer to returning to action.
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