Instant Reaction: Leafs dealing from position of strength in Joseph Woll-Emil Andrae trade with Flyers

Andrae registered two goals and 13 points in 61 games with the Flyers last season, before adding an assist in four playoff games. He’s a 24-year-old left-handed defenceman who was selected in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft. Andrae didn’t always live up to internal expectations with the Flyers, but Philadelphia controlled 55 percent of the expected goals at 5-on-5 when he was on the ice in 2024-25, along with a 51 percent share in 2025-26 via Natural Stat Trick. He’s an immediate upgrade over Benoit, and considering his age, upside and skating ability, it’s a clever step in trying to aim for a younger, mobile defence corps. Andrae is currently an RFA, and the deal may be truly evaluated on the terms the Maple Leafs eventually sign him to. For the time being, he’s a younger, cost-effective option.

Ersson-for-Woll is another variable to consider here: Woll is the superior goaltender, to be clear, by a wide margin. Ersson is one of the NHL’s worst full-time goaltenders, posting a gaudy .870 save percentage in 2025-26. This is clearly why the Flyers made the trade, as they can now pair Woll with Dan Vladar, who is coming off a tremendous campaign, where he earned down-ballot Vezina consideration. Philadelphia believes it has found its goaltending tandem of the future, for a relatively light acquisition cost.

Ersson will have to fight for his spot on the Maple Leafs, with Anthony Stolarz, Akhtyamov and Hildeby ahead on the depth chart. Perhaps this is where the Maple Leafs justify the move, where Ersson’s NHL experience could be a differentiator in what could be a crowded battle.

It’s a bit of a shock to see Woll leave after spending his entire career with the Maple Leafs. He will get a new start with one of the NHL’s rising upstars in Philadelphia, while the Maple Leafs aim to rebuild their defence corps one block at a time. It’ll be compelling to reevaluate this deal a year or two from now, especially after seeing where Andrae and Ersson fit into the Leafs’ long-term plans.

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