NHL Trade Grades: Flyers Get Joseph Woll, Maple Leafs Acquire Samuel Ersson in Goalie Swap

The whiplash from the Stanley Cup Final directly into the NHL offseason can often be unsettling. The Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs have cooperated to complete the first trade of the offseason, less than 48 hours after the Stanley Cup was awarded. It's a fairly interesting trade, too.

The Trade:

The Flyers try to shore up their goaltending ranks (as is tradition) and add a depth defenseman as well. Meanwhile, the Chayka/Sundin Era is officially underway in Toronto. They've moved two NHL players and a decent chunk of salary in what many expect to be a pretty sizable reconfiguration of the roster.

Let's assess the first trade of the offseason for both the Flyers and Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs

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The Maple Leafs have many potholes to fill and limited assets with which to do so. In his first move as Leafs' GM, John Chayka wisely is dealing from one of his few surpluses.

Woll was pretty good in net for the Leafs over the last few seasons when healthy, but the lack of availability really hurt them at moments when they were already dealing with enough issues. Anthony Stolarz also missed time with injuries. There was too much instability in net. Plus, the Leafs have one of the best young goaltenders outside the NHL in Dennis Hildeby. The 24-year-old posted a .914 save percentage in 20 games for Toronto last season and is waiver-eligible next season. 

Emil Andrae, 24, is a young puck-moving defenseman. Two goals and 11 assists in 61 NHL games are nothing to be excited about, but the Swede excelled at retrieving pucks and initiating breakouts. He won't be the power-play QB some anticipated when he was a prospect, and his 5'9" frame will prevent him from playing tough matchups, but the Leafs sorely need defensemen who can advance the puck, and he has shown he can do that job in sheltered third-pairing minutes.

Plus, the Leafs pick up a third-round pick and shed what should be roughly $3.2 million in cap space. Ersson has no business being in the NHL and is a restricted free agent, so Toronto could, in theory, decline to qualify a contract offer for him and let him become a free agent. As long as they stick with Hildeby and use that financial wiggle room wisely, this is a good start to the offseason in Toronto.

Grade: A-

Philadelphia Flyers

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A story that has been true for practically the entire salary cap era: The Philadelphia Flyers need goaltending help.

Daniel Vladar has proven to be a solid pickup and played like a lower-end starting goaltender last season, but his game is hit-or-miss, and I have serious doubts that he can be relied on for more than 50 starts and stick out a long playoff run. Backup Samuel Ersson was, to be blunt, the worst goaltender in the NHL the last couple of seasons. The Flyers need a solid 1B complement to Vladar.

Woll has the ability to serve that role. When healthy, he's been a starting-caliber NHL goaltender and, for moments, even looked like the future in net in Toronto. But "healthy" is the key qualifier here.

The 27-year-old netminder has experienced his share of lower-body injuries, and goaltending is notoriously unforgiving of this type of wear and tear. He's never started more than 41 games in a regular season. Lack of durability, more than questions about his talent, has plundered his value. No team can rely on him for two to three starts every week.

At a $3.67 million cap hit over the next two seasons, they avoid the long-term risk, and there's a pretty good chance he overperforms his contract. He's a strong choice to compete with Vladar for starts.

Simon Benoit has had his ups and downs as an NHLer. Coaches like his 6'4" reach and his willingness to block shots. He struggles to handle the puck, and his spatial awareness is questionable at times. With the right usage, he can be a respectable No. 6 or No. 7 NHL defenseman. 

To take the next step, the Flyers will need respectable goaltending for all 84 games. Woll's contract is reasonable, and a third-round pick is forgettable for the sake of what is a major upgrade in net.

Grade: A-