VOORHEES, NJ – At the end of development camp in July, Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said his guess was that John Tortorella liked Emil Andrae.
Ian Laperriere seems to think that’s a good guess.
He saw the Swedish defenseman join his team at the end of March last season while the Phantoms were in the middle of the playoff race. Lehigh Valley had no choice but to immediately give Andrae significant responsibilities. Laperriere was impressed with the small but strong prospect.
“He’s thick, but he’s not tall,” the Flyers’ AHL affiliate head coach said Thursday after Day 1 of rookie training camp. “Moves the puck well, he’s got a hell of a shot. But his biggest quality is that he competes. Like, he wants to be the guy.
“This is a big camp for him. I don’t think Torts knows anything about him other than what we talked about, but he’s a kid that I’m sure will make a hell of an impression on the Flyers coaching staff.
Since being selected by the Flyers in the second round of the 2020 NHL draft, Andrae has continued to improve. He is one of the best players of the 2022 juniors in the world and played many minutes last season for HV71 in the SHL, Sweden’s top pro league. He signed his entry-level contract in March, but this summer, there remains the possibility that he will return to the SHL.
However, Andrae and his representation made it. He will be in North America this season, playing for the Flyers or Phantoms.
“There was a discussion between my agent and HV and me,” Andrae said Thursday. “I want to stay here. If I go here, I want to stay and give it a try. “
The Flyers, now embarking on a rebuild, are in dire need of some homegrown, long-term strength in their back end. They hope Andrae will be one of the pieces.
The 21-year-old lefty shot stands at 5-foot-9. But those who scout and watch him admire his brains and competitiveness.
“He’s got vision, he can shoot the puck,” Phantoms assistant coach Jason Smith said Friday. “I think he has all the tools you want to have in an opportunity to get yourself to play in the highest league and highest level. He’s got confidence, but he’s got feistiness. It’s amazing that competition for not a big man, which is obviously very important.â€
A rival coach of the 2022 world juniors and Flyers director of player development Riley Armstrong both compared Andrae to former defenseman Kimmo Timonen.
Laperriere, who played with Timonen, pumped the brakes a little in comparison.
“It’s still early in the ballgame for that,†Laperriere said, “but if he gets close to Kimmo, I think everybody’s going to be happy.
“I’m excited to see what he’ll do in the preseason games with the big club. He’ll open eyes, for sure.”
Andrae may not open the season with the Flyers but he should be knocking on the door, starting in the rookie game against the Rangers and following up in the main training camp.
After all, what he knows and does best is competition.
“I think that’s how I am as a player and as a person,” Andrae said. “I don’t want to do anything at half speed. I just want to give it my all every time I’m out there. Otherwise, there’s no reason not to be there. That’s what I am and what I am.
“I’d be crazy if I had a goal other than playing in the NHL. I’ll do my best in training camp, try to prove to the coaches that I’m good enough to play in the AHL. I’ll do my best and see what happens. “
