The Toronto Maple Leafs 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: On the flyers
Joseph Woll 27 y/o G, Year 2/3 $3.67M
Simon Benoit 27 y/o D, Year 3/3 $1.35M
On the Maple Leaves
Samuel Ersson 26 y/o G, RFA
Emil Andrae 24 y/o D, RFA '26 3rd
Charlie O'Connor: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Ersson: “Sam has been an amazing teammate, really loved in the room. In Sam's case, it might be time for him to change positions. I hope it gives him that opportunity to take another step.”
NHL rumors: Oilers, and Golden Knights
Thoughts from the media
James Myrtle: “A very confusing trade…”
David Alter: “The key to this deal is # Leaves it's Andrae, a mobile, shifty, center-pairing NHL defenseman who can lift a second-unit power play. At 5-foot-9, 24 years old, this begins the reshaping of Toronto's D. “
Matt Larkin: “Intriguing first trade of the Chayka era. I think they see something in Andrae's bases that they like. They had that goaltending surplus, but the return sounds easy to me. Good move by the Flyers, and a solid tandem with Vladar/Woll going forward…”
Arun Srinivasan: “To my surprise, but the Maple Leafs are dealing with a position of strength, as Akhtyamov and Hildeby are NHL-ready. I thought they would get more from Woll, but I like Emil Andrae as part of an effort to strengthen the id-core.”
Justin Bourne: “Maybe you're talking too much to the Leafs who don't believe in the generally rare (but great!) Woll, freeing up options/room for AHL goaltenders? Benoit is a few years older than Andrae, and the team apparently wanted to move to D. The third guy skates.”
Charlie O'Connor: “Yes, my first impression is that I like you. Woll has always been one of my top picks for No. 2 after Vladar. Ersson might not even qualify yet. I like Andrae, but I always thought he was being moved this summer.”
Anthony DiMarco: “I've been hearing the Flyers like Woll for a long time. It's a good contract for a goaltender who, despite some injury concerns, has shown a lot of talent in the past. And it finally ends the Emil Andrae investigation.”
NHL Rumors: Chicago Blackhawks, and Toronto Maple Leafs
Charlie O'Connor: To Benoit: “I'm not a big fan. The bottom line metrics are terrible, but he's big and physical. I hope he's used as a No. 7. If he's the new Juulsen, it works.”
Dobber Hockey: “Emil Andrae was a good money. Small, but criminally abused. He named with the puck. He is very smart. He is very high, but he is dangerous. This was the kind of acquisition that I feel they need (that they can pull, not the pies dreamed in the sky imagination)”
Dobber Hockey: “As for Ersson, I don't think he's an NHL goaltender. Joseph Woll is. However, Woll is prone to injuries and needs to be able to score a real goalie when it matters. Still, trading him leaves the Leafs with another injury-prone goalie in Stolarz, and a weak backup to Ersson. So you have to assume another deal will happen.
Or, with Hildeby ready, it's a good situation where he can step in as a backup, without pressure, and take over when Stolarz's inevitable injury flares up. So on second thought, maybe another deal isn't coming yet…”
Player cards
Joseph Woll, acquired by PHI, is the goalkeeper pic.twitter.com/27cOihrIbC
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 16, 2026
Simon Benoit, acquired by PHI, is a big, physical depth defenseman who can protect the slot at times but also chases hits in his own zone and has a lot of trouble getting the puck out. pic.twitter.com/TiW8toSE8W
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 16, 2026
Does the Elias Pettersson Trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins Work Out for Both Sides?
Simon Benoit, acquired by PHI, is a big, physical depth defenseman who can protect the slot at times but also chases hits in his own zone and has a lot of trouble getting the puck out. pic.twitter.com/TiW8toSE8W
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 16, 2026
Emil Andrae, acquired by TOR, is a two-way defenseman who has excelled in protected minutes. A player with high motor and touch who zooms around the ice and throws hits but…….. he is 5'9. pic.twitter.com/2f07TuBNcE
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 16, 2026
