Flyers, Maple Leafs Announce Surprise 4-Player Trade Ahead of 2026 NHL Free Agency

The Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs announced a four-player trade Tuesday involving a swap of goaltenders.

Philadelphia acquired goalie Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit from Toronto in exchange for goalie Samuel Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae and a 2026 third-round draft pick.

The deal was struck just 10 days before the 2026 NHL draft on June 26 and about two weeks before the start of free agency on July 1.

Philadelphia is coming off a 2025-26 season that saw it far exceed expectations by reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2020, while Toronto disappointed by missing out on the postseason for the first time since 2016.

In Woll, the Flyers are getting a 27-year-old netminder who has started about half of the Maple Leafs' games each of the past two seasons.

After enjoying a breakout campaign in 2024-25 that saw him go 27-14-1 with a 2.73 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and one shutout, Woll took a step back this past season with a 15-16-7 mark, 3.34 GAA, .898 save percentage and two shutouts.

Some of that can be attributed to the team struggling in front of him, which may have been why the Flyers felt he was worth gambling on.

Woll figures to step in as the Flyers' backup goalie next season behind Daniel Vladař, who had a career year in 2025-26 with 29 wins, a 2.42 GAA and .906 save percentage en route to a surprising sixth-place finish in the Vezina Trophy voting.

While Vladař can become a free agent at the end of next season, ESPN's Kevin Weekes reported Sunday that Vladař and the Flyers were working toward a five-year contract extension that would pay him over $5 million annually.

Vladař's ascent this past season was partly born from Ersson struggling after being the Flyers' primary starter in 2023-24 and 2024-25 with 49 and 45 starts, respectively.

Ersson's play has dipped the past three seasons, going from a 2.82 GAA and .890 save percentage in 2023-24 to 3.14 and .883 the following season, and 3.12 and .870 last season.

Since Ersson is a restricted free agent, he and the Maple Leafs will have to work out a new deal, whereas the Flyers avoided having to negotiate with the 26-year-old veteran.

Regarding the other pieces of the trade, Benoit is a 27-year-old blueliner who has played in 352 regular-season games for the Anaheim Ducks and Maple Leafs over the past six seasons.

After matching his career high with 10 points and setting a career mark with a plus-12 rating in 78 games in 2024-25, Benoit had just six points to go along with a minus-22 rating in 73 games last season.

Benoit will make only $1.35 million next season, though, giving the Flyers some cheap depth on defense.

Andrae, 24, is coming off a career year with the Flyers and is the crown jewel of the trade from Toronto's perspective.

In 61 games last season, Andrae finished with two goals and 11 assists for 13 points to go along with a plus-15 rating.

Like Ersson, Andrae is an RFA, so the Maple Leafs have some work to do in terms of getting the players they acquired under contract.