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. “
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 high motor and impact player who zooms around the ice and throws hits but…….. he is 5’9. pic.twitter.com/2f07TuBNcE
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 16, 2026
