Emil Andrae, a 24-year-old Swedish defenseman drafted 54th overall in 2020, should be part of the Philadelphia Flyers’ NHL lineup without delay. Amid the team’s current rebuilding phase, maximizing playing time for young talent like Andrae is essential to long-term success, especially given his strong season contributions and potential upsides.
Currently under contract with the Flyers through the 2025-26 season with a salary cap hit of $903,333, Andrae is a restricted free agent after that. This season, he has split ice time between the Flyers and their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but recently he has faced multiple healthy scratches, including the February 2026 post-Olympic stretch, despite previously showing solid play.
Promising Season Stats Highlight Andrae’s Value
Throughout 40 NHL games this season, Andrae registered 11 points (1 goal and 10 assists) with a noteworthy plus-11 rating. According to advanced analytics like MoneyPuck, he leads the Flyers in on-ice goals percentage, hovering around 58-59%. His skill set as a puck-moving defenseman includes strong skating, sharp vision, and offensive instincts, making him a valuable asset in transitional play and generating offense from the blue line.
Youth Development Should Trump Short-Term Roster Decisions
The Flyers currently sit around the middle of the NHL standings, well outside of playoff contention. In this context, benching a young defenseman with top-four potential in favor of veterans like Noah Juulsen or Nick Seeler, who do not excel in penalty killing situations, raises questions. Head Coach Rick Tocchet has justified Andrae’s absence by citing penalty kill usage and handedness matchups, but the team’s penalty kill struggled even prior to the Olympic break, and Tocchet has acknowledged Andrae’s improvement efforts during practice.
Recent Benchings Fuel Trade Speculations and Frustration
Since January 26, Andrae has been sidelined, a move initially described as a short-term reset. However, this pattern extended well into February, feeding rumors about a potential trade before the March 6 deadline or a demotion back to Lehigh Valley. Andrae’s past stints of stable ice time combined with effective performances underscore the puzzling coaching decisions.
“I did research on PK times.Noah Juulsen has 1:51 of PK time since January 26th, which was the last time Andrae played.This is unbelievable he’s not cracking the Lineup. Just say you don’t want to play him” Jamey Baskow, Hockey Analyst
“The Flyers weren’t exactly ‘Killing it’ before the Olympic Break.Emil Andrae should be in the lineup tonight, period. The young kids should play. This is getting ridiculous #Flyers” Jamey Baskow, Hockey Analyst
Physical Size and Roster Considerations Create Challenges
On the other hand, some rationale exists for keeping Andrae out. At 5’9” and 194 pounds, he is considered undersized for a defenseman by NHL standards. Additionally, he is no longer waiver-exempt, meaning a demotion to the minors risks losing him to another team. The coaching staff also favors veteran experience and specific handedness alignments on the backend, especially for penalty kill responsibilities.
Long-Term Benefits of Integrating Andrae Fully into the NHL Lineup
Despite the concerns, the Flyers stand to gain by granting Andrae increased, regular ice time to accelerate his NHL development. His underlying performance indicators and flashes of offensive creativity suggest he is ready for a steady role in the top 6 or 7 defensemen. Prioritizing his growth over marginal improvements in short-term penalty kill structure or allegiance to veterans aligns better with the team’s rebuilding objectives.
For Philadelphia’s future, trusting Emil Andrae with consistent NHL minutes represents a necessary step in developing a competitive roster rather than relying on fleeting lineup adjustments or veteran familiarity.
I did research on PK times.
Noah Juulsen has 1:51 of PK time since January 26th, which was the last time Andrae played.
This is unbelievable he's not cracking the Lineup. Just say you don't want to play him https://t.co/wKkLf17JWv
— Jamey Baskow (@JameyBaskow) February 26, 2026
The Flyers weren't exactly "Killing it" before the Olympic Break.
Emil Andrae should be in the lineup tonight, period. The young kids should play. This is getting ridiculous #Flyers
— Jamey Baskow (@JameyBaskow) February 26, 2026
