The Philadelphia Flyers may be headed toward a tricky spot as the NHL trade deadline approaches - not because they’re overreaching, but because they might be about to let go of a player who still has untapped potential.
That player is 23-year-old defenseman Emil Andrae, a former second-round pick from the 2020 NHL Draft. While he hasn't cemented a long-term role in Philly’s plans, there’s reason to believe he still has value - maybe even more than meets the eye.
Despite being undersized for a defenseman at 5-foot-9, Andrae has shown flashes of promise, particularly in the advanced metrics department. His underlying numbers last season were solid, suggesting a player who drives play better than he might look at first glance. But that hasn’t been enough to win over the Flyers' front office, and according to reports, he could be on the move before the deadline.
Andrae has appeared in 85 games for the Flyers, including 39 this season, tallying one goal and 10 assists. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but they hint at a player still developing his offensive instincts at the NHL level. And given his size, he’s had to rely heavily on skating, positioning, and hockey IQ - traits that often take time to fully translate in a league dominated by bigger bodies and faster pace.
The concern for Philadelphia isn’t just whether Andrae fits into their system - it’s whether he might flourish somewhere else. If he ends up in the right environment, with a team that knows how to utilize his skill set, he could turn into one of those classic “change of scenery” success stories. And if that happens, the Flyers risk being on the wrong side of a deal that ages poorly.
This is the kind of situation that tests a front office’s patience and vision. Do you move on from a young defenseman who hasn’t fully clicked in your system? Or do you hold out hope that the potential you once saw in him - the same potential that made him a second-round pick - still has room to grow?
One thing’s for sure: if Andrae does get moved, he’ll be a name to watch. Because sometimes, the most impactful trades aren’t the blockbuster deals - they’re the quiet ones where a player finally finds the right fit.