Maple Leafs Sign Emil Andrae To Two-Year Contract

The 24-year-old was originally acquired by the Maple Leafs in a June 16 trade that sent Simon Benoit and Joseph Woll to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Originally a 2020 second-round pick by the Flyers, Andrae slowly developed into an NHL-caliber defenseman during more than a half-decade as a prospect with the club.

He spent the first three seasons after he was drafted playing professional hockey in Sweden’s first and second divisions, before crossing the Atlantic to join the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the spring of 2023.

Over the last three seasons, Andrae has developed directly in the Flyers’ system. He spent his rookie season in North America (2023-24) mostly at the AHL level, scoring 32 points in 61 games. The following campaign, he posted 16 points in 25 AHL games but got into 42 contests at the NHL level in Philadelphia.

This past season, Andrae played in just seven AHL games compared to 61 in the NHL. He scored 13 points in 61 games for the Flyers in 2025-26.

An undersized defenseman standing just 5’9″, Andrae has always played larger than his actual frame. In ranking him the team’s No. 3 prospect in January 2025, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler wrote Andrae “plays an aggressive yet calculating game,” and complimented Andrae’s level of physicality and defensive ability given the natural limitations that come with playing at his size.

So far in his pro career, Andrae has been able to propel himself to full-time NHL status, despite his limitations. The Maple Leafs have made a bet that he will be able to sustain his upwards trajectory.

Given the amount of upheaval on Toronto’s roster, and the fact that they hired a new head coach in Jim Hiller, it’s difficult to project what kind of role Andrae will play in 2026-27. He averaged just 15:20 time on ice per game last season, with only sporadic usage on either side of special teams. That, combined with his $1.55MM cap hit, could indicate he is a candidate to be a seventh defenseman.

Toronto currently has three left-shot blueliners almost certain to occupy regular roles on the blueline: Morgan Rielly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jake McCabe.

While Andrae has some experience playing from the right side, he’d be a more natural fit on the left, but there does not appear to be an opening for him. That could change if Rielly is traded, of course, but as of right now Andrae’s fit is somewhat awkward.

With that said, for a team full of veteran defensemen at or above the age of 30, Andrae provides a desperately needed infusion of youth to their blueline. While he may not end up a minutes-eating force, he’s an ascending blueliner who offers some versatility and can provide greater flexibility for Hiller when he looks to construct his defense.