Confirmed with Link: Leafs acquire Emil Andrae, Samuel Ersson, 2026 3rd for Joseph Woll, Simon Benoit

[Duffman955]

Shut return IMO

 

[francis246]

I'm sorry but why did we just trade Woll for a 3rd stringer with a career sv% of .884?

Because that’s all that he’s worth. No one is paying anything of value for a goalie who can’t even give you 40 games.

Stolarz has absolutely zero value. They had to clear out a goalie

 

[Malachi Crunch]

Emil Andrae is a highly skilled, mobile, and undersized two-way defenseman known for his excellent hockey IQ, aggressive physical play, and elite puck-handling. Despite his smaller stature, he compensates with a remarkably strong, stocky build that allows him to play a surprisingly heavy and fearless game.

Key Playing Style Traits:

• Puck-Moving & Vision: He excels at transitioning the puck from his own zone. He relies on smart, quick outlet passes and calm decision-making to evade forecheckers and spark breakouts.
• Offensive Assertiveness: He is highly creative at the offensive blue line. He uses his deceptive skating, edge work, and patience to walk the line, bait defenders, and create odd-man situations.
• Fearless Physicality: Despite standing around 5'9", he refuses to shy away from contact. He plays a scrappy, 200-foot game, actively initiating hits along the boards and winning tough puck battles.
• Poise & Gap Control: He plays with a maturity beyond his age, rarely appearing overwhelmed under pressure. He consistently maintains tight, effective gap control in the neutral and defensive zones.

 

[RuudeDog]

Unlike many, I am thrilled they chose Stolarz over Woll. I think Stolarz is the real deal when healthy. I know he never is. Woll being off the first 10 games for an unknown reason is a big red flag. Not sure what was going on there. I would have kept both and lost Hildeby on waivers personally. Woll looked lost at the end of the season and in WC.

Don't know much about this new D. But his bio of skates well and excellent on the breakout, and physical is a step in the right direction. 24 years old is good to. Throw in a 3rd. I don't hate it as much as others will. But I need to see him play. Leafs needed to get younger on the D. Usually takes D a while to hit their stride. He is the right age.

 

[MapleLeafs77]

Gross trade

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Goalies typically don't have much trade value so while a 3rd for Woll is lower than I would like, I'm not surprised this is the return with how oft injured he is.

A bit surprised that we were so quick on Benoit though seeing as he is the one defensemen we have with actual wheels (surprisingly).

 

[Eternal Leaf]

They also opened up a decent amount of cap with this trade.

Pretty neutral trade in my opinion.

 

[Leafsforlife98]

2 Swedes and a 3rd. Stenberg next lol.

 

[Fogelhund]

A third isn’t a terrible return for a goalie, even if I would have preferred to have kept Woll over Stolarz. But both are injured too much.

We dumped Benoit, so good work.

Will either of these Philly guys get an offer, or did we just open up cap room and get a third for our troubles?

 

[Malachi Crunch]

I don't know much about Emil Andrae, but the description sounds great.

 

[bov]

Andrae spent 4 years in the Flyers organization and couldn't become an everyday player for them. Not much offensive production at all from him at the NHL level for a 'puck moving D'.

Im sure Toronto can get more from him than Philly did, but he needs to really be a factor for this trade to make sense.

 

[cyris]

Well don’t love it but goalies just don’t hold much value. Especially one that can’t stay healthy.
Erson is just AHL depth. So it’s a 3rd and a young Dman

 

[francis246]

I never thought he'd have a lot of value, thats why I wanted to keep him. Just waive Stolarz if the best return is a 3rd, a cap dump, and a manlet

Meh, I think people will not care about this trade once the season starts. This is a good draft to acquire more picks in. I think the Leafs want to move up in the 2nd and having an early 3rd rounder will allow us to jump up and grab a VERY good defenseman. If the price is Woll to do that, I’m okay with it

 

[IPS]

Because that’s all that he’s worth. No one is paying anything of value for a goalie who can’t even give you 40 games.

Stolarz has absolutely zero value. They had to clear out a goalie

Yeah I was hoping for a sidegrade atleast. We got a downgrade.

Is this Andrae kid any good?

 

[HEAVY DUTY]

Wow, that's a shit return.

 

[Peasy]

Betting your season on Stolarz and Hildeby seems asinine.

 

[IPS]

Emil Andrae is a highly skilled, mobile, and undersized two-way defenseman known for his excellent hockey IQ, aggressive physical play, and elite puck-handling. Despite his smaller stature, he compensates with a remarkably strong, stocky build that allows him to play a surprisingly heavy and fearless game.

Key Playing Style Traits:

• Puck-Moving & Vision: He excels at transitioning the puck from his own zone. He relies on smart, quick outlet passes and calm decision-making to evade forecheckers and spark breakouts.
• Offensive Assertiveness: He is highly creative at the offensive blue line. He uses his deceptive skating, edge work, and patience to walk the line, bait defenders, and create odd-man situations.
• Fearless Physicality: Despite standing around 5'9", he refuses to shy away from contact. He plays a scrappy, 200-foot game, actively initiating hits along the boards and winning tough puck battles.
• Poise & Gap Control: He plays with a maturity beyond his age, rarely appearing overwhelmed under pressure. He consistently maintains tight, effective gap control in the neutral and defensive zones.

Sounds all good but where is he slotting in?

Our LD is firmly occupied by Rielly, McCabe and OEL.

 

[1specter]

Can't help but feel like this is Chayka's 'Denis Malgin' trade.

 

[francis246]

Yeah I was hoping for a sidegrade atleast. We got a downgrade.

Is this Andrae kid any good?

Yeah I hear you. I always expected the goalie trade to underwhelm a bit!

Andrae, he left much to be desired. Maybe the leafs can help him unlock a bit more but he’s supposed to be an offensive puck moving dman. So there’s potential there.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Betting your season on AA and Hildeby seems like an awesome idea.

I fixed it for you.

 

[JKG33]

Meh, I think people will not care about this trade once the season starts. This is a good draft to acquire more picks in. I think the Leafs want to move up in the 2nd and having an early 3rd rounder will allow us to jump up and grab a VERY good defenseman. If the price is Woll to do that, I’m okay with it

The Leafs traded their best goalie for essentially nothing, and a negative value asset. They are a worse team thats easier to play against after this trade. And they made the deal with a team who owns their first.

Well done Chayka, A+

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Can’t say I hate this trade because I have no idea who we acquired but just on paper, we gave up two NHLers for prospects(?) I’ve never heard of.

Not exactly a fan of that

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Pretty much Woll for Andrae+3rd. 2nd ish rounder value on Woll which seems about right given the circumstances.

Ive wanted to take a chance on Andrae for a while, thought about a Robertson/Andrae swap.

 

[Buckley]

What the f*** is this? Can we stop trading with Philly and Boston?

I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised by Andrae.

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

slop

f*** off with this AI garbage.

Yeah I was hoping for a sidegrade atleast. We got a downgrade.

Is this Andrae kid any good?

Better than Benoit and he was at least noticeable in Flyers game but not really skilled enough at anything to overcome his size as more than a 6/7 D, IMO.