John Chayka has made his first big move with the Maple Leafs. Toronto’s new general manager traded goaltender Joseph Woll and depth defenceman Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday for blueliner Emil Andrae, netminder Samuel Ersson and a third-round pick at the 2026 NHL draft. Chayka was hired by the Maple Leafs alongside franchise legend Mats Sundin — now its senior executive adviser of hockey operations — last month following a disastrous campaign for one of the pre-season Stanley Cup favourites. Former GM Brad Treliving was fired in late March with Toronto circling the drain, while head coach Craig Berube, who has yet to be replaced, was handed his walking papers May 13. Chayka has been tasked with retooling a roster that still features a formidable attack up front led by Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthew Knies. Toronto also owns the No. 1 pick for next week’s draft, with star forward Gavin McKenna the odds-on favourite to hear his name called first. “Mats and I have been working pretty hard now for the last several weeks, coming up with what we think is a pretty comprehensive off-season plan,” Chayka said on a video conference call with reporters. “There’s lots of work to be done with the roster. What we like about this opportunity was it allowed us to create some flexibility.” Andrae registered 13 points in 61 games for Philadelphia last season before adding one assist in four playoff contests. He’s put up 20 points (three goals, 17 assists) in 107 career regular-season appearances. Selected 54th overall in 2020, the 24-year-old adds youth to Toronto’s slow and aging back end, but stands just five foot nine. Chayka, who hadn’t worked in the league since July 2020 before his hire, said he’s monitored the Swede for some time. “Smart, competitive player,” he said. “Helps us break the puck out more efficiently … can also help join the rush and support offence.” Ersson made 33 appearances for the Flyers in 2025-26, posting a 14-11-5 record with an .870 save percentage and a 3.12 goals-against average. The 26-year-old selected by Philadelphia at No. 143 in 2018 has a 65-50-17 record across 143 regular-season games with an .884 save percentage and a 3.01 GAA. Ersson is a pending restricted free agent and the Maple Leafs would have to submit a qualifying offer later this month to maintain his NHL rights. “Someone that we identified as having some upside,” Chayka said. “We’ll get together with (director of goaltending development and scouting Curtis McElhinney) and make that decision.” Woll departs Toronto, which picked him 62nd in 2016, after compiling a 63-43-9 record, .906 save percentage and 2.94 GAA in 117 regular-season games. The 27-year-old had a 15-16-7 record, a career-high two shutouts, an .899 save percentage and a 3.34 GAA in 2025-26 as Toronto missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Woll, who partnered with Anthony Stolarz in the Maple Leafs’ crease, has had a difficult time staying healthy in the NHL, with the 42 appearances made in 2024-25 representing a career-high. He also suited up in 14 playoff contests, posting a 6-6 record to go along with a .906 save percentage and a 2.73 GAA. Tuesday’s deal opens the door for Dennis Hildeby to play more NHL games next season, while prospect Artur Akhtyamov has backstopped the Toronto Marlies’ run to this spring’s Calder Cup final in the American Hockey League. Woll, Stolarz and Hildeby would have all required waivers to be sent to the minors in 2026-27. “You want the young players to force your hand a bit,” Chayka said. “It definitely causes you to take notice and make plans.” Those plans include getting younger, faster and accruing assets. “The profile of Emil lines up with some of the other players that we’re looking to add or are part of our roster currently,” Chayka said. “Good organizations are always keeping an eye on that, getting draft capital. An asset/prospect base starts to get built up or use the pick to acquire other players. “It sets us up very well for future moves.” Decision time Chayka indicated the search for a new coach is in the “final phases.” “A pretty thorough process,” he said. “We’ve had some in-person meetings recently, and we’re getting down to decision time. Should be in the next several days.” Dotted line The Maple Leafs signed forward Tinus Luc Koblar to a three-year, entry-level contract earlier this week. The 18-year-old selected 64th at the 2025 draft had six goals and three assists in 10 games playing for bronze-medallist Norway at the recent world hockey championship. He had five goals and five assists in five games at the world junior championship earlier this year. “I didn’t know as much about him,” Chayka said of the six-foot-two forward. “The team did a great job getting him where they got him.” By Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2026.
