The 27-year-old has two seasons remaining on a three-year, $10.98 million contract ($3.67 million average annual value) he signed with the Maple Leafs on July 1, 2024, and can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2027-28 season.
"We thought it was a chance to improve the team, help them take another step," Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said. "Sam has been a fantastic teammate, really loved in the room, both him and Emil. We just felt in Sam's case, it's one of those where it might be time for a change of scenery for him, and hopefully it gives him that chance to take another step. Did well in the second half last year and down the stretch. He's a gamer, but I think it was time for him to get a chance elsewhere. We felt Woll, it's a step forward for us and he'll be able to help (Dan Vladar) in a tandem role."
Selected by Toronto in the third round (No. 62) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Woll is 63-43-9 with a 2.94 GAA, .906 save percentage and four shutouts in 117 regular-season games (113 starts) and 6-6 with a 2.73 GAA, .906 save percentage and one shutout in 14 Stanley Cup Playoff games (10 starts).
"It's great to have organizational depth at a position and any time you can leverage that depth to create flexibility and accrue some young assets too, that was the goal," Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said. "We evaluated everything and looked at it a lot of different ways but I think our ability to satisfy a lot of needs and set ourselves up for the offseason were the things we were looking for in this type of transaction and we were able to accomplish that with this one."
This season, Vladar was 29-14-7 with a 2.42 GAA and .906 save percentage in 52 regular-season games (51 starts) and played every minute of the playoffs, going 4-6 with a 2.18 GAA, .922 save percentage and two shutouts. He has one year remaining on a two-year, $3.35 million contract and is eligible to sign another contract with Philadelphia on July 1.
"As far as the contract talks, we're working on it," Briere said. "He said he's interested, obviously the team is interested. We're working toward something that we hope can get done eventually, but it's not over the finish line yet."
Benoit had six assists in 73 games for the Maple Leafs this season. The 27-year-old had 21 points (two goals, 19 assists) over the past three seasons with Toronto and has 36 points (six goals, 30 assists) in 352 regular-season games for the Anaheim Ducks and Maple Leafs. He has two points (one goal, one assist) in 20 playoff games.
Benoit has one season remaining on a three-year, $4,05 million contract ($1.35 million AAV) he signed with the Maple Leafs on March 29, 2024, and can become a UFA after next season.
This was the first trade made by Chayka since being hired as Toronto GM on May 3 to replace Brad Treliving, who was fired on March 30.
"Mats (Sundin, senior executive adviser) and I have been working pretty hard now for the last several weeks coming up with what we think is a pretty comprehensive offseason plan and this is a move we feel that is a part of that," Chayka said. "There's lots of work to be done with the roster."
In addition to Woll, the Maple Leafs had three goalies play in the NHL last season (Anthony Stolarz, Dennis Hildeby, Matt Murry) and have prospect Artur Akhtyamov developing in the American Hockey League.
"What we liked about this opportunity is that it allowed us to create some flexibility," Chayka said. "I think flexibility and optionality are assets to any great organization and certainly this allows us to be in a better spot as we think about the entire offseason plan."
The Maple Leafs (32-36-14), who missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons, fired coach Craig Berube on May 13, and the position remains vacant.
Ersson was 14-11-5 with a 3.12 GAA and .870 save percentage in 33 games (29 starts) this season. The 26-year-old did not play in the playoffs, serving as the backup to Vladar. Philadelphia was swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Second Round in its first playoff appearance since 2020.
