The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Tuesday that they have reached a two‑year agreement with defenceman Emil Andrae, a 24‑year‑old restricted free agent, at a $1.55 million average annual cap hit.
A Versatile Addition to the Blue Line
Andrae’s arrival comes after he was acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers in a trade that sent goaltender Joseph Woll and forward Simon Benoit to Philadelphia, a move that cleared cap space and added a right‑handed option to Toronto’s defensive corps.
General manager John Chayka praised the deal, describing Andrae as a “smart, competitive” player who can contribute both on the left and right sides of the blue line, providing the depth the club has sought.
The Leafs have been busy this offseason, adding several forwards to the roster and acquiring veteran defenceman Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning, while also appointing Jim Hiller as the team’s new head coach.
Coach Hiller is expected to deploy Andrae in a third‑pairing role, where his versatility and defensive reliability should help stabilize a unit that has seen its top pairing reshaped over the past year.