Emil Andrae (5’9, 189 lbs) was traded by the Flyers to the Toronto Maple Leafs yesterday, giving Andrae a chance at being a full time player on the backend.
The Flyers sent him, goalie Samuel Ersson, and a 2026 third-round pick to Toronto in exchange for goalie Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit.
Size concerns
Andrae’s size was a recurring talking point during his time with the Flyers. At 5’9, he was often viewed as “too small” for an NHL Defenseman, especially when paired with other smaller blueliners like Jamie Drysdale and Cam York. This created debates about the team’s overall defensive size and physicality
- Flyers’ General Manager Danny Briere cited the desire for more size on the back end as a factor in moving him.
- Despite the concerns, Andrae showed skill as a puck-mover with offensive upside (e.g., 13 points in 61 games in 2025-26) and some two-way potential.
Trade Context
The deal addressed Flyers Goaltending depth (adding Woll as a backup/1B option) while giving Toronto a young, cost-controlled RFA defenseman with upside. Toronto’s new General ManagerJohn Chayka reportedly highlighted Andrae’s puck-moving ability as a key piece.
Andrae was a second-round pick (54th overall) by Philly in 2020 and had been bouncing between the NHL and AHL. His entry-level contract had expired, making him an RFA.
It looks like the “too small” narrative ultimately played a role in his departure from Philly, even if his talent made him a useful piece for Toronto. Classic hockey size bias in action.
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