Emil Andrae is back on the waiver wire just weeks after landing with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Kirill Marchenko-Matthew Knies blockbuster, and that turn of events has put the former Maple Leafs defenseman in play again.
Columbus waived Andrae on Tuesday after a quiet start to the 2026-27 season. He appeared in five games for the club, picking up two assists while posting a plus-3 rating, five blocks and four hits in 10:33 of ice time per game.
Andrae has already changed teams twice this year. He first arrived in Toronto in a summer trade that sent Simon Benoit and Joseph Woll to the Philadelphia Flyers, with Andrae and goaltender Samuel Ersson going the other way. Then, just before the season began, Toronto moved him again in the deal that brought back Kirill Marchenko, Elvis Merzlikins and Miles Wood, while Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz and Andrae headed to Columbus.
Now that he’s available, Andrae looks like a player who could draw interest quickly. He fits the profile of a young puck-moving defenseman with term, which makes him the kind of waiver claim teams tend to circle.
Toronto could be one of them. The Maple Leafs know exactly what they signed him for, and there’s at least a case for revisiting the fit. He could slot in as a replacement for Oliver Ekman-Larsson if he needs a break, and he could also pair with Troy Stecher to give Toronto a physical, hard-nosed duo that makes life miserable for opponents.
The wrinkle is roster space. The Maple Leafs would need to make room for Andrae, and they still have Nick Blankenburg waiting to return from injury. Another option would be to claim Andrae, send him to the Marlies for more reps, and bring him back later.
Toronto has a real chance to get him if it wants him, but that only works if the teams ahead of them on the waiver order pass first.
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