🏒 Trading places | Sports Daily Newsletter

We’ve written plenty about what might be next for Emil Andrae and Sam Ersson.

Well, now we know.

The Flyers on Tuesday dealt the defenseman and goaltender to the Toronto Maple Leafs for … a goaltender and a defenseman.

OK, hear us out.

Ersson and Andrae’s days in Philly were numbered. Both restricted free agents, they were blocked by talent in front of them or had failed to perform consistently. A change of scenery might be what’s best. As for the new guys, goalie Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoît, they represent upgrades at a bargain. That’s just part of why trade got high marks from Flyers beat writer Jackie Spiegel.

And before Woll and Benoît take the ice in orange and black, get to know them a little.

— Maria McIlwain, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Good or bad, what do you think is the most consequential trade in Philly sports history and why? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Next chapter

The trade wasn’t the only news the Flyers made on Tuesday. The NHL draft is fast approaching, and Brière and assistant general manager Brent Flahr offered some insight into their strategy.

So what did we learn?

The Flyers don’t have a ton of picks, but the brass is open to shipping those off in exchange for a young, polished player. Those don’t fall to No. 21, where the Flyers will pick first, Flahr said. But this year, there are plenty of centers — a well-known Flyers need — and some of whom could fall into the team’s range.

Next: The Toronto Maple Leafs have the first pick in the NHL draft, which begins June 26 (7 p.m., ESPN) and runs through June 27.

Philly, get ready for Brazil

Sunday’s FIFA World Cup opener in Philly was electric, but Friday’s highly anticipated match between Brazil and Haiti might eclipse it.

How do we know? Because we made the trek up north to MetLife Stadium last Saturday for the Group C match between the Brazilians and African giants Morocco for a match that didn’t disappoint and an atmosphere that was hard to forget. Many of those fans now plan to come down and create another sea of yellow-clad fervor in South Philly.

Kerith Gabriel writes that if Philly gets even a fraction of what Brazil’s support brought to MetLife, then Philly is in for a real treat.

Over on the West Coast, the U.S. men’s national team is riding high, too, after a historic win over Paraguay. But history offers a reminder: It was just one game.

Next: The USMNT’s second group-stage game is Friday vs. Australia in Seattle (3 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo). Closer to home, Brazil will face Haiti on Friday (7:30 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo) at (checks notes) Philadelphia Stadium.

On the mound

In the leadoff spot for the first time since 2022, Brandon Marsh homered as the Phillies crushed the Marlins, 8-2. Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm also hit homers off former Phillie Tyler Phillips.

In the latest edition of Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, pitching coach Caleb Cotham sat down with our Scott Lauber to chat about the Phillies rotation, including Cristopher Sánchez (and The Streak), Zack Wheeler, and Andrew Painter.

Meanwhile in the bullpen, Brad Keller was placed on the injured list with right forearm tendinitis. Keller, who has a 4.15 ERA in 31 appearances, largely had been used as a setup man this season.

Next: The Phillies’ series vs. the Marlins concludes with a matinee today (1:05 p.m., NBC 10). Andrew Painter (1-7, 6.43 ERA) is the Phillies’ scheduled starter, while Sandy Alcantara (6-4, 4.25) is slated to go for Miami.

Taking stock

The NBA draft is coming up soon, too, and the Sixers’ first pick will be at No. 22 overall. So who might new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey be eyeing in about a week?

Many experts are predicting a big man or forward joining the fold, and our Sixers beat writer, Gina Mizell, breaks down the possibilities.

Next: The Washington Wizards have the first pick in this year’s draft, which is June 23-24 (8 p.m., 6abc, ESPN).

Sports snapshot

• Learning curve: Collegeville native and former Villanova star Lucy Olsen is working to find her niche with the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.
• Goldfish mentality: How an unconventional mindset helped West Chester Henderson to a PIAA girls’ lacrosse title.

On this date

Fun fact: Tennis’ U.S. Open — at least the women’s portion — has roots at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, specifically its St. Martins clubhouse. On this day in 1911, Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman beat Florence Sutton, 8-10, 6-1, 9-7, for her third straight title. The Cricket Club hosted the U.S. women’s championships from 1887 to 1921, when it was moved to New York. The tournaments evolved into the U.S. Open in 1968, but the USTA recognizes the champions from the Cricket Club era.

🧠 Trivia time answer

Question: Philadelphia hosted its first men’s World Cup match, but it’s not the first FIFA World Cup game at Lincoln Financial Field, as there have been women’s matches played there as well. Today’s question: What year was it?

Answer: Trivia answer: In 2003, Philadelphia rallied to hold matches of the women’s World Cup that were scheduled to be in China following the SARS outbreak in that country.

What you’re saying about teachers

We asked: Pause sports. Want to give a shoutout to an influential teacher?

Nice note this morning. Sam was my coach for just a week at soccer camp when I was a kid in Delco in the early ’90s(?), but I remember him while I couldn’t tell you another name—staff or fellow camper—who was also there. He was a great presence. — Dan P.

A shout out to my daughter Beth Fotch who is this years Vista Del Mar K8 Teacher of the Year in San Clemente California. — Everett S.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jackie Spiegel, Mia Messina, Kerith Gabriel, Jonathan Tannenwald, Scott Lauber, Lochlahn March, Gina Mizell, Gabriela Carroll, and Conor Smith.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading along! I’ll be back in your inboxes tomorrow morning. — Maria