After a season that tested his resilience like never before, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll is trading the pressure of the NHL for the international stage—and it might be exactly what he needs.

USA Hockey announced its preliminary roster for the 2026 IIHF Men's World Championship in Switzerland on Thursday, and the 27-year-old netminder is on the list. More importantly, he's expected to step in as the team's starting goaltender, giving him a golden opportunity to reset, rebuild his confidence, and remind the hockey world what he's capable of.

For Woll, this tournament is about more than just representing his country. After a breakout 2024-25 campaign where he posted a solid 2.73 goals-against average and .909 save percentage across 42 games, this past season was a step in the wrong direction. In 39 appearances (38 starts), he finished with a 15-16-7 record, a 3.34 GAA, and an .899 save percentage. The numbers don't lie—but they also don't tell the whole story. Toronto's defensive struggles and a rotating cast of injuries left Woll exposed far too often, testing his mental toughness in ways that stats can't capture.

Now, heading to Zurich and Fribourg for the tournament running May 15-31, Woll gets a fresh start in a high-stakes but lower-pressure environment. Compared to the relentless scrutiny of a Maple Leafs season, the World Championship offers a chance to play freely and rediscover his game. He'll be competing alongside fellow NHL stars like Matthew Tkachuk, and with a goalie group that includes Devin Cooley and Drew Commesso, Woll is the clear frontrunner for the No. 1 job.

This won't be Woll's first time wearing the red, white, and blue. His international résumé runs deep, dating back to his time with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor. As a U17 player in 2014, he helped the U.S. earn silver at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He followed that up with strong performances at the U18 level, proving time and again that he rises to the occasion when representing his country.

For a player who has faced as much adversity as opportunity in Toronto, the World Championship represents a chance to hit the reset button—and remind everyone why he was once considered one of America's top goaltending prospects.