Maple Leafs and Flyers complete goalie swap to fix specific lineup gaps

Toronto acquired Samuel Ersson, Emil Andrae and a 2026 third-round pick from Philadelphia for Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit on June 16.

Trade details and immediate roster shifts

The Maple Leafs sent goaltender Joseph Woll, who had started 45 games in 2025-26, along with defenseman Simon Benoit to the Flyers. In return they received netminder Samuel Ersson, blueliner Emil Andrae and the draft selection. Philadelphia had used Ersson in 38 appearances last season while limiting his workload due to injury history.

Flyers general manager Danny Briere targeted a more reliable 1B option behind projected starter Dan Vladar, whose five-year extension talks center on roughly five million dollars annually. Woll provides that insurance without requiring an increase beyond Vladar’s prior career-high 52 games played.

Toronto, meanwhile, added Andrae’s puck-moving ability after observing slower defensive transitions in their own end during the prior campaign. Benoit’s physical style fits Rick Tocchet’s system in Philadelphia, where size on the third pairing was prioritized over passing range.

Leafs fans viewed the netminder return as a downgrade, yet the organization retained the untradeable long-term contract of backup Anthony Stolarz while gaining a mobile defender who can contribute on the power play.

How each side gains from the exchange

Philadelphia upgrades its tandem depth immediately, allowing Vladar fewer back-to-back starts after logging a career-high number of appearances. Ersson’s departure frees salary-cap flexibility and adds a third-round asset for future use.

Toronto receives a third-pairing upgrade that addresses puck retrieval and transition speed, two areas measured at a combined minus-0.2 expected goals per sixty minutes last season. The addition of Andrae offsets the loss of Woll’s starter potential by stabilizing the blue line rather than the crease.

Russ Cohen noted on SiriusXM NHL Network that the Flyers had explored Woll as early as March, confirming the move aligned with an established internal plan rather than a reactive decision.

Both clubs avoided larger salary-cap hits; the retained draft pick gives Philadelphia additional flexibility heading into the 2026 draft that features seven or eight selections for the organization.

Long-term fit within each system

Ersson now competes for starts behind Anthony Stolarz in Toronto, where the tandem can split duties more evenly than Woll’s previous workload. Andrae’s feisty style and passing skills offer power-play options previously underutilized under prior coaching preferences.

In Philadelphia, Woll slots behind Vladar as the clear backup, reducing injury risk to the starter while Benoit supplies the physical presence Tocchet values on the third pair. The third-round pick compensates for any short-term net loss in perceived value.

The transaction leaves both organizations with clearer role definitions entering training camp, where goaltending stability and defensive mobility can be measured against 2025-26 benchmarks.