Maple Leafs trade Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to Flyers

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John Chayka’s first trade as general manager of the Maple Leafs used some of the club’s goaltending capital and bears the fingerprints of his Swedish lieutenant, Mats Sundin. 

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On Tuesday, Toronto acquired two Swedes — defenceman Emil Andrae and goaltender Samuel Ersson — as well as a third-round selection at next week’s NHL draft from the Philadelphia Flyers.

The price was netminder Joseph Woll and defenceman Simon Benoit as Chayka and his senior executive assistant moved one of four goalies who would’ve been in next year’s crease picture.  

Someone had to budge amongst Woll, Anthony Stolarz, Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov, the latter who has helped his cause as the Marlies’ No. 1 through their Calder Cup pursuit this month. Hildeby can no longer be waiver-exempt and carrying three goalies would be awkward.

Woll was a home-grown goalie, but often out of action with injuries and was an absentee early last season while at home dealing with personal issues. He departs 15th in franchise wins with 63 in 117 games.

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The pick from the Flyers gives Toronto a total of eight this year, including first overall, and another third-rounder to go with its own after earlier deals by previous GMs Brad Treliving and Kyle Dubas depleted its stock.

Who are the players the Leafs received?

Both newcomers are restricted free agents. Andrae, 24, played 61 games for Philadelphia last season, a career-high for the second-round pick from 2020, who has split time on the farm since coming to North America in 2022-23. The left-shooting, 5-foot-9 defenceman had 13 points, while in 107 career NHL games, contributed 20 points — three goals, 17 assists. 

The Leafs do lose some snarl in Benoit, but last season was not his best after battling his way on to the Leafs roster a couple of years earlier. Toronto could lose veteran Morgan Rielly in a trade this summer if he desires a change.    

Ersson, 26, appeared in 33 games for the Flyers last season, posting a 14-11-5 record. In his 143 career appearances, Ersson has a record of 65-50-17 and a .884 save percentage. He was a Philadelphia fifth-round pick in 2018. 

 Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby 

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