Welcome to North America Andrae
A young 21-year-old Flyers prospect Emil Andrae was the Captain of Team Sweden for a reason at the WJC in 2022. Andrae is a 200 foot player, that is as fast as they come, plus he has a blistering shot. He can play in any situation the coaching staff asks of him, and that was evident at the WJC in 2022 in a 6-0 Team Sweden route over Austria.
Andrae really put forth one heck of a game against Austria at the WJC. He finished the game with two goals and an assist, was a plus two, and logged 17:13 of ice time. That’s what Andrae does, he logs minutes. Andrae would be coveted by most nations as he eats minutes, regardless of his size.
He only stands at 5’9 and only weighs 176 pounds, but he is still a talented left-handed shot defenseman. His hockey IQ has vastly improved from the prior year with HV71, and was arguably one of their best players in 2022-23 after notching six goals and 20 assists in 51 games played. Andrae found his niche and became a versatile player that has impeccable gap control, and he has shown that time and time again for HV71.
What is most impressive about Andrae is his intelligence, and that is why he has been signed by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on an amateur tryout for the remainder of the season to help with their playoff push. Do not panic Flyers fancy will sign an ELC here shortly, but this is so his ELC kicks in for the 2023-24 season, and not for the 2022-23 season. It affords the Flyers an extra year of eligibility, and in turn it gives him professional experience.
He’s a smart hockey player and he showcases that along the boards. Andrae makes quick decisive decisions to get the puck out of his own zone, and he is very good with breakouts. He is good with leading the rush up the ice, and this should make the Flyers top brass happy. The orange and black have struggled for the past few years with their Defensemen and breakouts.
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