The Philadelphia Flyers acquired Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit from the Toronto Maple Leafs on June 17, 2026, in exchange for Emil Andrae, Samuel Ersson and a third-round pick.
Timeline of scouting and decision
Daniel Briere tracked Toronto’s goaltending depth once Dennis Hildeby posted a .914 save percentage across 20 games in 2025-26. The Flyers noted Hildeby would require waivers the following season, prompting closer evaluation of Woll.
Samuel Ersson posted a save percentage of .786 or lower in three of his first six starts, creating urgency in Philadelphia. Briere confirmed the observation window opened precisely when Hildeby forced his way into the Maple Leafs lineup.
Woll, 27, entered the trade talks after a 27-14-1 season with Toronto that included a 2.73 goals-against average and .909 save percentage. The Flyers viewed the 6-foot-3 netminder as a developing upgrade over Ersson.
Building the tandem with Vladar
Dan Vladar posted a 29-14-7 record, 2.42 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 2025-26 before adding two playoff shutouts. Briere explicitly rejected the idea of Vladar facing 65 games, citing the risk to both netminders.
Woll has exceeded 40 regular-season appearances only once in his career. Briere acknowledged the durability concern yet pointed to Vladar’s own pre-Philadelphia history of limited starts before he reached 51 appearances.
The deal also added Simon Benoit, providing defensive depth. Briere emphasized that coaches and players must trust both goalies to push each other, a dynamic absent in recent Flyers seasons.
Outlook after one year removed
Woll arrives one year after his strongest NHL campaign while Vladar completed his first extended workload without major injury. The parallel statistical profiles, 2.73 and 2.42 goals-against averages, underpin the optimism that Philadelphia goaltending can finally stabilize.
By June 2027 the Flyers tandem targets 50 combined regular-season wins if workload stays under 60 games per goalie.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.