Emil Andrae’s latest stop in the NHL has already hit a familiar checkpoint: waivers.
The Columbus Blue Jackets placed the former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman on waivers Wednesday, one day after their 7-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. He was one of two Blue Jackets sent to waivers, along with left winger Danton Heinen.
Andrae’s time with Toronto was brief. The Leafs acquired him from the Philadelphia Flyers in the Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit trade, with GM John Chayka bringing him into the organization. He then went through Maple Leafs training camp and appeared in two preseason games before his situation changed again.
A day before Toronto’s season opener, Andrae was dealt to Columbus in the package that sent Matthew Knies to the Blue Jackets and brought Kirill Marchenko back the other way. That full trade also included goaltender Elvis Merzlikins and left winger Miles Wood heading to Toronto, while left winger Steven Lorentz went to Columbus.
The 24-year-old has played five games for Columbus this season and has two assists while averaging 10:33 of ice time per game. Last season with the Flyers, he appeared in 61 games, scored two goals, and finished with 13 points while averaging 15:20 of ice time.
Andrae has not played for the Blue Jackets since Toronto visited Columbus on Oct. 20, a game marked as Marchenko’s return. In that one, Andrae picked up an assist and logged 10:22 of ice time.
The left-shot defenseman is in the first season of a two-year contract he signed with Toronto as an RFA. The deal carries a $1.55 million cap hit, and he has RFA arbitration rights when it expires after 2027-28.
If he clears waivers, Andrae will be assigned to the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. He also played seven games in the minors last season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, giving him 103 regular-season games in the American League overall.
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