Philadelphia Flyers acquire Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit from Toronto Maple Leafs
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Flyers and Maple Leafs complete trade
The Philadelphia Flyers have announced a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, acquiring goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit. In exchange, the Maple Leafs will receive goaltender Samuel Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae, and Philadelphia’s third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. This transaction sees both teams adjust their rosters ahead of the upcoming season, with significant implications for their goaltending and defensive depth.
Woll, born July 12, 1998, was a third-round selection by Toronto in the 2016 NHL Draft. He has played in parts of five NHL seasons with the Maple Leafs, accumulating a career record of 63-43-9. His career statistics include a 2.94 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage across 117 regular-season games. Woll has also participated in 14 Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording a 6-6 record with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.
The 27-year-old goaltender is coming off his second consecutive season with 35 or more starts. During the 2025-26 season, he posted a 15-16-7 record, achieved two shutouts, and maintained a 3.34 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage. He also had a season-high three-game win streak on three separate occasions. Before his NHL career, Woll spent parts of six seasons with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he compiled a 41-35-5 record.
Benoit and the Maple Leafs’ acquisitions
Simon Benoit, also 27 and born September 19, 1998, is an undrafted defenseman who has played in parts of six NHL seasons. His career includes stints with the Anaheim Ducks from 2020 to 2023 and the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2023 to 2026. Over 352 career games, Benoit has recorded 36 points, including an overtime-winning goal in Toronto’s first-round matchup against Ottawa in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He averaged 17:05 of ice time per game.
During the 2025-26 season, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound defenseman registered six assists in 73 games. He was among the top two on his team in hits with 194, marking his fifth consecutive season ranking first or second in this category. Benoit also tied for second on Toronto with 114 blocked shots, achieving his fourth straight season among the club’s top five shot blockers. He also played parts of five AHL seasons with the San Diego Gulls from 2018 to 2022, appearing in 160 games and recording 43 points. Additionally, he played two games with the Toronto Marlies during the 2023-24 season and collected four assists in 21 Calder Cup Playoff games.
The Maple Leafs, in acquiring Samuel Ersson and Emil Andrae, will see a change in their defensive and goaltending structure. Ersson appeared in 143 games with the Flyers, posting a 65-50-17 record, a 3.01 goals-against average, and an .884 save percentage. Andrae skated in 107 games with Philadelphia, recording 20 points, including 3 goals. The Flyers now hold four picks in the 2026 NHL Draft: a first-round pick (21st overall), a second-round pick (53rd overall), a sixth-round pick (181st overall), and a seventh-round pick (213th overall).
Perspectives on the trade
From Toronto’s perspective, the trade of Woll, who has been developing within the organization for a decade and shown flashes of brilliance, raises questions, according to James Mirtle. While the Maple Leafs had a three-man logjam in goal, with Dennis Hildeby requiring waivers, Woll was seen by some as having the best starter credentials among their NHL-ready goalies, despite injury concerns. The acquisition of Ersson, who has been noted as one of the NHL’s lowest-ranked netminders in goals saved above expected over the past two seasons, may not immediately resolve Toronto’s goaltending uncertainty.
The Maple Leafs gain salary cap space, as Woll was earning $3.66 million for the next two seasons, and a third-round pick. The development of Andrae is considered a wild card in the deal. Andrae is described as an undersized but intriguing puck mover who could offer Toronto’s blue line a different look. While currently seen as a bottom-pair, second-unit power play option, there is potential for him to become a top-four option for a Toronto team aiming to reshape its defense into a more finesse-driven unit. If this potential is realized, it could be a win for new GM John Chayka.
For the Flyers, the deal appears to be a win, as they are close to solidifying their goaltending long-term with an extension for Dan Vladar reportedly incoming on July 1. Corey Pronman describes Woll as a highly athletic goalie who has performed well in the NHL when healthy, possessing the size, quickness, and sense to be a legitimate backup. Benoit is characterized as a solid stopper with size, though lacking exceptional quickness or skill, making him a fringy NHL third-pair type. The Flyers’ bet on Woll is seen as a positive move, as his performance, combined with Vladar’s, could quickly resolve their issues in net.
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Source: nhl.com
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