Joseph Woll Bids Emotional Farewell to Maple Leafs After Trade to Flyers
Joseph Woll is making sure his time in Toronto won’t soon be forgotten — by himself or the fans who watched him grow into an NHL goaltender. Just one week after being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, Woll took to Instagram on Tuesday to post a heartfelt goodbye to the Maple Leafs organization and the city that shaped his career.
“From the bottom of my heart, I thank the organization, the city, my friends and especially my teammates for helping to make my time in Toronto special,” Woll wrote alongside a photo of himself stepping onto the ice at Scotiabank Arena. “I have enough memories to last a lifetime. I will forever be proud and grateful for my time with the Leafs.”
Woll signed off his message with a maple leaf emoji and a spirited “Philly, get ready,” signaling his enthusiasm for the next chapter of his career.
Trade Details
The deal, which was finalized last Tuesday, sent Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to the Flyers in exchange for defenseman Emil Andrae, goaltender Samuel Ersson, and a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The trade marked the end of an era for both players in Toronto and opened up new opportunities on both sides of the deal.
Maple Leafs’ Goaltending Depth Chart Takes Shape
With Woll’s departure, the Maple Leafs are heading into next season with a reshuffled goaltending corps. Anthony Stolarz, Dennis Hildeby, and Artur Akhtyamov are the three goaltenders currently in the mix for Toronto as the team looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2025-26 campaign in which they missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
Woll, who turns 28 in July, was selected by Toronto in the third round of the 2016 NHL Draft. Over parts of five seasons with the Leafs, he appeared in 117 games, compiling a 63-43-9 record and posting a .906 save percentage. However, consistency was often elusive due to injuries that limited his availability throughout his tenure.
Toronto Reportedly Eyeing Sergei Bobrovsky
With the organization expecting nothing less than a playoff berth next spring, speculation has emerged that Toronto has interest in veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. The 37-year-old is seeking unrestricted free agency on July 1, making him an intriguing option on the open market.
Bobrovsky’s stock may have taken a hit following a difficult season with the Florida Panthers, where he posted a career-worst .877 save percentage across 52 games. Despite the down year, his track record and experience could make him an appealing target for a Leafs team desperate to shore up its goaltending and return to postseason contention.
Benoit Also Says Goodbye to Toronto
Simon Benoit, who was included in the same trade to Philadelphia, also took to social media to express his gratitude to the Leafs. Over the weekend, Benoit posted his own farewell on Instagram.
“Thank you to the organization for everything on and off the ice, to my teammates, the staff, the fans for an unforgettable journey and for always making me feel at home,” Benoit said. “I will always be grateful for the opportunity the Leafs gave me! Excited and ready to give Philly everything I have!”
Benoit spent three seasons in Toronto after signing with the Maple Leafs in the summer of 2023. The physical defenseman recorded 21 points and accumulated 156 penalty minutes in 215 games, carving out a role as a reliable, hard-nosed presence on the blue line.
