The Toronto Maple Leafs solved their goaltending logjam briefly on Friday as they traded Samuel Ersson to the Ottawa Senators for a 2027 5th-round pick.
Ahead of Friday's draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a minor move by dealing goaltender Samuel Ersson to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2027 5th-round pick. The move was announced by the team on their official X account:
TRADE: We've acquired a fifth-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for the rights to goaltender Samuel Ersson
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Ersson came over in the Woll trade and is gone after just a few weeks
Toronto gets back a draft asset for a goalie they may not have had any plans for, so it's certainly a benefit. Ersson was acquired on June 16th in the trade that sent Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Ersson, defenceman Emil Andrae and a third-round pick.
Sportsnet's Luke Fox added that Maple Leafs GM John Chayka didn't seem like he had Ersson in the team's plans and wasn't expected to qualify him anyways:
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Ersson went 14-11-5 with a 3.12 GAA and .870 SV% with the Flyers last season, and is a restricted free agent who needs a new contract.
With Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov already in the system, not to mention Anthony Stolarz locked up and the potential to bring in someone like Sergei Bobrovsky in free agency; the writing was on the wall for Ersson.
Ottawa gets some much needed goaltending help and gives Ersson a fresh start
One of the biggest gripes for the Senators last season was their inability to find consistent goaltending. They had a rotation of goalies that was headlined by Linus Ullmark but also consisted of a 37-year old James Reimer, and none of them were really a standout.
With Reimer likely headed out and both Ersson and Leevi Merilainen as RFA's, Steve Staios is going to have to make sure he brings both back on reasonable deals. But Ersson should at least provide some stability behind Ullmark while Merilainen gets a little more seasoning, and he's not a bad goalie just moreso average.
But most importantly he needs a fresh start because this is now going to be the third team he's been on since the season began and just needs a place to settle. Ottawa is perfect because they are a team who may be retooling a bit, so adding in a 26-year old with a chip on his shoulder is a solid move on their part.
Plus, if Ersson becomes their starter or someone reliable, he could add just another wrinkle into the already legendary Battle of Ontario.
For now though, he's gotta sign a new deal in the nation's capital, and Toronto finds themselves a little less burdened in the crease - a rare win-win.
More details to come.
Do you think the Maple Leafs should have held onto Samuel Ersson?
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