Overview
- The Maple Leafs traded goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers and received defenseman Emil Andrae, goaltender Samuel Ersson and the 85th overall pick in the 2026 draft.
- The trade, which occurred on Tuesday, June 16, clears a crowded crease and reflects Toronto's decision to prioritize younger internal goalies such as Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov.
- Emil Andrae is a 24‑year‑old, mobile two‑way defenseman whose underlying metrics favor chance creation, breakouts and positive expected‑goals impact in limited minutes.
- Samuel Ersson joins the Leafs' depth chart but his roster role is unresolved because his save percentage fell last season and Toronto already has rising goaltending prospects.
- John Chayka described the move as the first step in a wider retool, a direction that responds to the team's slow breakouts and transition problems and leaves fans divided over losing familiar players.