For hockey fans in Canada, Toronto has moved a homegrown goaltender from a crowded crease. The Maple Leafs sent Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers on June 16, 2026, receiving Samuel Ersson, Emil Andrae and a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The deal is also John Chayka’s first major move as Toronto’s general manager, giving it extra weight in a market already watching how the Leafs will reshape.
The Backstory
Toronto entered the summer with a crowded crease. Woll, Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby all saw NHL time last season, while Artur Akhtyamov was also in the picture after helping the Marlies during their Calder Cup pursuit. One goalie was likely to move, and Woll had value because of his NHL record, age and lack of trade protection.
Woll’s Maple Leafs story was complicated. Toronto selected him 62nd overall in 2016, and he finished his time with the club with a 63-43-9 regular-season record, a .906 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average across 117 games. The concern was availability; the 42 games he played in 2024-25 stood as a career high.
- Restricted free agent
- A player whose team keeps certain negotiating rights after the contract expires.
- Goals-against average
- A goalie statistic showing goals allowed per 60 minutes.
- Save percentage
- The share of shots on goal stopped by a goaltender.
Here's What Happened
The trade was clean in structure. Toronto acquired defenceman Emil Andrae, goaltender Samuel Ersson and Philadelphia’s third-round pick in 2026. Philadelphia acquired Woll and defenceman Simon Benoit, adding a goalie with stronger NHL numbers than Ersson and a physical blue-liner.
Andrae is the most intriguing Toronto addition. The 24-year-old left-shot defenceman played 61 games for Philadelphia last season, recording two goals and 11 assists, then added one assist in four playoff games. Across 107 career NHL games, the Västervik, Sweden native has 20 points.
Ersson, meanwhile, arrives as a 26-year-old pending restricted free agent. He played 33 games for the Flyers in 2025-26, going 14-11-5 with a 3.12 goals-against average and an .870 save percentage. His career numbers across 143 NHL games are 65-50-17, a 3.01 goals-against average and an .884 save percentage.
Toronto also moved Benoit, a 27-year-old defenceman who had six assists in 73 games last season. Philadelphia’s announcement noted his physical profile: he finished in the top two on Toronto in hits with 194 and tied for second on the club with 114 blocked shots.
What People Are Saying
The Athletic’s James Mirtle framed the deal around that concern, arguing that Woll appeared to have the best starter credentials among Toronto’s NHL-ready goalies, even with his injury history.
Other analysis focused on the logic behind the move. Maple Leaf Hot Stove tied the deal to two roster needs: moving a goalie before waivers and changing a defence group that struggled to move the puck. It identified Andrae as the noteworthy return because he can break out and make plays with the puck.
The Leafs Nation took a similar angle, calling Toronto’s move a deal from a position of relative strength because Akhtyamov and Hildeby have pushed for larger roles. But it also stated that Woll is the superior goaltender compared with Ersson, making Andrae and the third-round pick central to the verdict.
The Bigger Picture
For Toronto, the trade creates immediate cap and roster flexibility. TSN reported that the move clears just over $5 million in cap space, though both Ersson and Andrae need new contracts and Hildeby’s cap hit could be added to the NHL roster. The third-round pick also matters because recent Leafs teams have often spent draft capital to chase immediate help.
The risk is clear. If Woll stays healthy in Philadelphia and becomes a steady tandem goalie, Toronto will need Andrae to become more than a depth defenceman for the deal to look balanced. If Woll’s injury issues continue and Andrae gives the Leafs a reliable puck-moving third-pair option, Chayka’s first major move will look more practical than emotional.
For fans in the GTA, the personal impact is about trust. The Leafs are asking supporters to accept a shift toward a younger, more flexible roster mix, even when the outgoing player was drafted and developed by Toronto.
The Road Ahead
Andrae and Ersson are both pending restricted free agents, so Toronto’s next confirmed task is contract work. Their eventual deals will affect how much cap space the Leafs actually preserve after the trade.
The 2026 NHL Draft is the next major checkpoint. Toronto now owns Philadelphia’s third-round pick, while the Flyers’ announcement says Philadelphia holds four picks: 21st, 53rd, 181st and 213th overall.
FAQ
Why did the Maple Leafs trade Joseph Woll?
The sources point to Toronto’s crowded goaltending picture. Woll, Stolarz, Hildeby and Akhtyamov were all part of the crease conversation, and Hildeby could no longer be sent down without waivers.
What did Toronto get from Philadelphia?
The Maple Leafs received goaltender Samuel Ersson, defenceman Emil Andrae and a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Who did the Flyers get in the trade?
Philadelphia acquired Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit. Woll brings stronger career NHL goalie numbers than Ersson, while Benoit adds size, hits and shot blocking on defence.
How does Emil Andrae fit with the Leafs?
Andrae is a 24-year-old left-shot defenceman whose value is tied to mobility and puck movement, a skill Toronto’s defence needed more of.
Does this solve Toronto’s goalie situation?
Not completely. Ersson replaces Woll on the roster, but Stolarz, Hildeby and Akhtyamov remain part of the competition.