The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenseman Emil Andrae to a two-year deal on July 4. They got the 24-year-old blueliner from the Philadelphia Flyers earlier in this offseason.

This deal gets him $1.55 million a year and comes after his entry-level contract with Philadelphia ran out on July 1. General manager John Chayka, in June, had explained why Andrae stood out after the trade happened.

"Our staff felt good about him. He's a smart, competitive player, and he helps us break the puck out more efficiently. A good puck-mover that can also help join the rush and support offence as well. From that side, we're getting a good young D in an age group that, candidly, we could use some more defence in that age group," he starts to explain.

“So, you know, it kind of satisfied a need there for us. And to add some draft capital as well, as we look to replenish, you know, it checked a lot of boxes,” he later adds.

Philadelphia had picked the Swede in the second round as the 54th overall pick back in 2020. And on June 16 this year, Toronto got Andrae in a trade, as they sent goalie Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to Philadelphia.

So in return, besides Andrae, Toronto got goalie Sam Ersson and a 2026 third-round pick. They later traded Ersson to Ottawa for a fifth-round pick and used the third-rounder to pick goaltender Juuso Ainasto.

Last season, Emil Andrae played 61 games for the Flyers, scoring 13 points on two goals and 11 assists, plus one assist in four playoff games. In 107 career NHL games, he has 20 points in total.

This deal ended up adding a younger player to a blue line full of experienced players, and it brought back draft picks after a busy run of trades. Andrae is expected to fill in a bottom-pairing spot under the new head coach, Jim Hiller.

Chayka's offseason roster planning for Toronto

Emil Andrae's deal is just one of many moves that John Chayka has made since becoming general manager in May. As highlighted by Lindy's Sports, the Maple Leafs have shaken up the roster led by Gavin McKenna as the No. 1 draft pick on a three-year, $3.225 million deal.

On July 1, Toronto signed goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year, $21 million deal. The team also signed forwards Jack Roslovic in a two-year deal worth $8.5 million, Colton Sissons for two years, $8.5 million, and Teddy Blueger for two years, $5 million.

Other picks included signing Zack MacEwen for two years, worth $1.75 million, and Brandon Duhaime for three years, $7.8 million.

The Maple Leafs made two other trades that same day, too. They sent their winger Nick Robertson to Pittsburgh for a fourth-round pick and sent goaltender Dennis Hildeby. With two other draft picks, Tampa Bay got the forward Nick Paul, sending him back to his hometown. 

Chayka's decision roughly costs $52 million, reshaping Toronto's roster from the bottom six all the way to the top in just a few days.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Yash Kotak