Leafs trade Woll, Benoit to Flyers for Andrae, Ersson, draft pick
New GM John Chayka's first major move opens door for Dennis Hildeby to be Toronto's regular goaltender next season.
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Toronto's new general manager John Chayka made his first big move, trading goaltender Joseph Woll and defenceman Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday for blueliner Emil Andrae, netminder Samuel Ersson, and a 2026 third-round pick.
Andrae, 24, played 61 games for Philadelphia last season with 13 points. The Swedish defenceman, drafted 54th overall in 2020, has 20 points in 107 career NHL games. He adds youth to Toronto's aging defence.
Ersson, 26, made 33 appearances for the Flyers in 2025-26 with a 14-11-5 record, .870 save percentage, and 3.12 goals-against average. The goaltender has a combined 65-50-17 record across 143 regular-season games.
Woll, picked 62nd by Toronto in 2016, compiled a 63-43-9 record with a .906 save percentage and 2.94 GAA in 117 regular-season games. The 27-year-old went 15-16-7 last season as Toronto missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade. He was partnered with Anthony Stolarz in the Leafs' crease but struggled with injuries—his 42 appearances in 2024-25 represented a career-high.
Benoit, 27, had six assists in 73 games last season. The undrafted forward scored an overtime goal against Ottawa in Game 3 of Toronto's first-round playoff series last spring.
The trade opens the door for prospect Dennis Hildeby to play more NHL games next season. Prospect Artur Akhtyamov has backstopped the Toronto Marlies' run to the American Hockey League's Calder Cup final.
Chayka was hired last month alongside franchise legend Mats Sundin, now senior executive adviser of hockey operations. Former GM Brad Treliving was fired in late March, and coach Craig Berube was let go May 13.