The Flyers have returned protection prospect Emil Andrae to AHL Lehigh Valley, a transfer made official this morning however mirrored within the AHL’s transactions log over the weekend. It’s a powerful indication that Nick Seeler, who’s but to play this season after taking a puck to the knee late of their exhibition schedule, will come off injured reserve forward of Tuesday’s recreation in opposition to the Capitals and can enter the lineup, per Adam Kimelman of NHL.com.
Andrae, 22, had a powerful coaching camp by all accounts however fell simply in need of making the opening night time roster. The 2020 second-round decide has 4 NHL video games beneath his belt, all coming with Philly final season. He was recalled to offer the Flyers harm insurance coverage on the again finish earlier this month, shortly after Seeler landed on IR, however he hasn’t performed. He sat within the press field for all 5 of Philadelphia’s video games this season.
The Swede will get the prospect to hit the ice quickly in Lehigh Valley, the place he had 32 factors (5 G, 27 A), 66 PIMs, and a -10 score in 61 video games final 12 months. It was his first full marketing campaign in North America after spending components of 4 seasons within the Swedish Hockey League and HockeyAllsvenskan with HV71 and Västerviks IK. He gained the latter league with HV71 in 2022, posting 33 factors in 41 regular-season video games and 11 factors in 10 qualification video games to guide their blue line and assist them achieve promotion again to the top-level SHL.
Andrae will probably get a professional NHL look in a while within the season. In his 4 appearances with the Flyers final 12 months, he posted a -1 score, six blocks and 5 hits whereas averaging 13 minutes per recreation. He nonetheless has one season left after this one on his entry-level contract and gained’t be an RFA till 2026.
In the meantime, Seeler’s return provides the 1-3-1 Flyers a much-needed enhance. He’s anticipated to anchor the group’s second pairing alongside Jamie Drysdale, in keeping with Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia. The 31-year-old was deployed in top-four minutes at even energy for the primary time final season, posting a career-high 12 assists with a +9 score and 78 PIMs in 71 appearances. He averaged practically 17 minutes per night time and had a number of the greatest possession high quality metrics on the group, logging a 56.0 xGF%. That efficiency earned him a four-year, $10.8M extension again in March, simply the richest deal of his profession.
That steady presence will assist a Philly squad that’s actually struggled to maintain the puck out of their very own web, permitting 4.20 GA/GP. Their possession play hasn’t been nice, solely controlling 47.5% of scoring probabilities and an abysmal 40.4% of high-danger probabilities at even energy. Seeler’s return will assist get these numbers nearer to 50 if his efficiency during the last two seasons is any indication.
