The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers for goaltender Samuel Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae and a 2026 third round pick.
Puck Pedia: To the Flyers
Joseph Woll 27 y/o G, Yr 2/3 $3.67M
Simon Benoit 27 y/o D, Yr 3/3 $1.35M
To the Maple Leafs
Samuel Ersson 26 y/o G, RFA
Emil Andrae 24 y/o D, RFA ’26 third
Charlie O’Connor: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Ersson: “Sam has been a improbable teammate, really loved within the room. In Sam’s case, it is likely to be time for a change of scenery for him. Hopefully it gives him that likelihood to take one other step.”
NHL Rumors: Oilers, and the Golden Knights
Thoughts from the media
James Mirtle: “A really confusing trade…”
David Alter: “Key to this deal for #Leafs is Andrae, a mobile, puck-moving, middle-pairing NHL defenseman who can elevate a secondary power-play unit. At 5-foot-9, 24-year-old, this begins the reshaping of Toronto’s D.”
Matt Larkin: “Fascinating first trade of the Chayka era. I assume they see something in Andrae’s underlyings they like. They did have that goalie surplus, but return feels light to me. Nice haul for Flyers, and a robust tandem with Vladar/Woll going forward…”
Arun Srinivasan: “A little bit of a surprise, however the Maple Leafs are dealing from a position of strength, as Akhtyamov and Hildeby are ready for the NHL. Thought they’d get more for Woll, but I like Emil Andrae as a part of an effort to strengthen the d-core.”
Justin Bourne: “Probably speaks more to Leafs not having a belief within the oft-unavailable (but excellent!) Woll, freeing up options/room for the AHL goalies? Benoit is older than Andrae by just a few years, and team clearly desired to move to raised skating/puck-moving D. Third pair guy.”
Charlie O’Connor: “Yeah, my first instinct is I prefer it. Woll was at all times one among my preferred options to amass because the No. 2 behind Vladar. Ersson may not have even gotten qualified. I like Andrae, but I at all times assumed he was getting moved this summer.”
Anthony Di Marco: “Had been hearing the Flyers like Woll for awhile. Good deal for a goalie that, despite some injury concerns, has shown loads of talent previously. Also finally puts an end to the Emil Andrae experiment.”
NHL Rumors: Chicago Blackhawks, and the Toronto Maple Leafs
Charlie O’Connor: On Benoit: “I’m not an enormous fan. Pretty bad underlying metrics, but he’s big and physical. Hope he gets used because the No. 7. If he’s the brand new Juulsen, it really works.”
Dobber Hockey: “Emil Andrae was a great get. Small, but criminally underrated. Creative with the puck. Super-smart. High upside, but carries risk. This was literally the kind of acquisition I felt they needed (that they may actually pull off, not some dreamy pie within the sky idea)”
Dobber Hockey: “As for Ersson, I don’t think he’s an NHL goaltender. Joseph Woll is. Nevertheless, Woll is injury prone and it’s essential to give you the chance to count on a goalie actually playing when it matters. Still, trading him leaves the Leafs with one other injury prone goalie in Stolarz, and a weak backup in Ersson. So you have got to think that one other deal will occur this summer to handle that.
Or, since Hildeby is prepared, it’s a pleasant situation where he can slot in as a backup, no pressure, and take the reins when the inevitable Stolarz injury crops up. So on second thought, perhaps one other deal isn’t forthcoming…”
Player cards
Joseph Woll, acquired by PHI, is a goalie pic.twitter.com/27cOihrIbC
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 16, 2026
Simon Benoit, acquired by PHI, is a giant physical depth defenceman who can defend the slot sometimes but in addition chases hits in his own zone and has loads of trouble getting the puck out. pic.twitter.com/TiW8toSE8W
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 16, 2026
Could an Elias Pettersson Trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins Work for Each Sides?
Simon Benoit, acquired by PHI, is a giant physical depth defenceman who can defend the slot sometimes but in addition chases hits in his own zone and has loads of trouble getting the puck out. pic.twitter.com/TiW8toSE8W
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 16, 2026
Emil Andrae, acquired by TOR, is a two-way defenceman who has done well in sheltered minutes. A really high-motor and involved player who zooms across the ice a bunch and even throws some hits but…….. he’s 5’9. pic.twitter.com/2f07TuBNcE
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 16, 2026