Emil Andrae, the 24-year-old Swedish defenseman (drafted 54th overall in 2020), absolutely should be playing in the NHL lineup right now—specifically for the Flyers. Many fans and even some context from recent reports back this up, especially during a rebuild phase where developing young talent should take priority over marginal veteran minutes.
Andrae’s currently under contract through 2025-26 (cap hit $903,333, RFA after that) and has split time between the Flyers and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season. But, as of late February 2026 (post-Olympic break), he’s been a healthy scratch for multiple games in a row—including last night’s game vs. Washington—despite earlier stretches where he played regularly and showed solid results. Here are some reasons why he should be in the lineup:
- Performance metrics: In 40 games this season, he’s tallied 11 points (1g,10a), a strong +11 rating, and ranks high on the team in on-ice goals percentage (around 58-59% via MoneyPuck). He’s been productive relative to his role, especially as a puck-mover with good skating, vision, and offensive instincts.
- Development priority: The Flyers aren’t contenders (hovering around mid-pack, not in a playoff spot). Sitting a promising young D-man (with top-4 upside potential) for veterans like Noah Juulsen or Nick Seeler—who aren’t PK standouts either—doesn’t make sense. Flyers’ Head Coach Rick Tocchet cited Penalty Killing usage as a reason for scratching him, but the Penalty Kill wasn’t elite before the break, and Andrae’s been working on it in practice, according to Tocchet.
- Recent context: He’s outperformed expectations at times (e.g., strong games with assists, plus ratings, and high ice time in prior stretches). Earlier scratches were framed as temporary resets, but the pattern has continued, leading to talk of sending him back to Lehigh or even trade rumors ahead of the March 6th trade deadline. Andrae, unfortunately, has been benched since January 26th.
That said, counterpoints exist: He’s undersized (5’9, 194 pounds), not waiver-exempt anymore, and the coaching staff seems to prefer handedness/PK matchups or “veteran stability” on the backend. Trade chatter suggests some see him as expendable for assets.
Overall, though—he belongs in the NHL rotation to build experience, especially since his underlying numbers and flashes indicate he’s ready for more consistent top-6/7 minutes. The Flyers would benefit long-term from trusting him over short-term “PK tweaks” or vet loyalty. If the goal is future success, play the kid.
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