Sep 29, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae (36) controls the puck against the Boston Bruins during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
PHILADELPHIA - Emil Andrae was disappointed in himself when he didn't make the Flyers opening night roster.
But now, just one week after that roster announcement, Andrae is back and hoping to stick for good.
The Flyers recalled Andrae from Lehigh Valley on Sunday and will plug him into the spot in the lineup that was being filled by Yegor Zamula. He'll play on the third pair with Noah Juulsen in the Flyers home opener against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers on Monday.
"I was disappointed to get sent down," Andrae said. "I didn't play well enough to make the roster. I needed to have the mindset to get back here - whether it takes one game or two months, I wanted to get back here and this is my goal. Now I got an opportunity."
How much of an opportunity remains to be seen.
Cam York, who started the season on the I.L. with a lower-body injury, skated with the team at the morning skate on Monday. There's a thought that he could be back in the lineup as soon as Thursday, which means this could be a one-game tryout for Andrae before he gets sent back to Lehigh Valley.
That said, the Flyers have not been thrilled with the play of their defensemen so far. Travis Sanheim has been very good. Nick Seeler has been solid. The rest of been varying degrees of mediocre, shaky and bad.
EMIL ANDRAE WAS HYPE FOR GOAL #1. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/a39I9FHkeg
G.M. Danny Briere has been talking to teams to see who might be available. He's been scouring the waiver wire looking for an addition to as well, and although there was mild interest in San Jose defenseman Jack Thompson, who was on waivers on Sunday, the Flyers did not put in a claim, as they would have had to put a player of their own on waivers and risk losing them.
So, until York is ready, Andrae will get a shot.
"We've struggled the last couple games of getting the puck up the ice and moving the puck is something I think he can add," coach Rick Tocchet said. "That and fourth man on the rush, mobility on the blue line, beating their forecheck by wheeling the puck."
Andrae has shown flashes of being a solid NHL defenseman, but he's lacked consistency. He is going to get a one game shot here at showing Tocchet he can play with consistency and do it well.
"That's the challenge of me being the player I am," Andrae said. "All players battle with that all the time - you want to make plays but at the same time you want to be reliable and consistent.
"It's more of a mindset than how you play. Just don't be afraid to make mistakes. Just get out there, play my game, and just try to relax and have swagger. That will help me more than thinking about what I have to do."
For his part, Andrae went down to the Phantoms and registered two assists in his first game. It's obvious that he's a good enough player to be a top pair defenseman in the AHL.
If he can prove he belongs in the NHL, he'll give the Flyers something to think about.
That said, being as small as he is (he's listed at a generous 5 feet, 9 inches), he needs to really stand out. With a healthy York and Jamie Drysdale also both being smaller defensemen, it's not ideal to have three similarly smallish defensemen in the lineup.
That said, it's not unprecedented.
"The year we won in Pittsburgh we had Letang and we didn't have big crushing guys," Tocchet said. "We used our brain and our speed. It's the same thing here. ... There are mobile guys who make plays."
And that's what they're going to need Andrae to do - make plays in the offensive zone, and be smart and get lead the rush out of the defensive zone.
It's why he's subbing in for Zamula, who can't seem to find a regular footing with the Flyers.
"He gets the puck and he's staring at his options instead of, you know, there's 20 feet of space," Tocchet said. "I want him to get on and get going. He's never going to be the fastest player, but if you think faster you look faster. That's something that he has to do better."
Emil Andrae ain't taking your shit, Poitras. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/nYJiK9SsHP
Right now, it's just a matter of hoping somebody takes the job on the third pair and owns it.
"We're looking for somebody yo make a statement," Tocchet said. "Obviously you can't play (Sanheim) 30 minutes a night. ... We need somebody to take a chunk (of time).
"I thought (Andrae's) decisions with the puck - he was giving the puck away a lot. I think there's pockets (of the game) where, 'Man,, this guy can play,' ... I think that if you give him some reps - and why not give him the chance now? It's as good a time as ever to get him in against a really good hockey team."
Don't miss Snow The Goalie, this Wednesday live at Chickie's and Pete's of Malvern, 10 Liberty Blvd., at 6PM. The show will broadcast from a different Chickie's and Pete's location every week throughout the Flyers season.
