The summer of John Chayka continues, as Emil Andrae signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Terms of the deal were not immediately closed, but Andrae reportedly signed a contract worth $1.55 million annually, via The Athletic’s Chris Johnston.

Andrae was acquired in a trade from the Philadelphia Flyers, along with Samuel Ersson and a third-round pick, in exchange for Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit. Toronto promptly dealt Ersson to the Ottawa Senators, in exchange for a fifth-round pick. It was Chayka’s first significant move, acquiring the 24-year-old Andrae as part of a concerted effort to revamp the team’s roster. Andrae’s speed and ability to break the puck out will be assets for the Maple Leafs, in a third-pair role, and he’s still young enough to fit the win-now timeline, and a more agile timeline with Gavin McKenna and Matthew Knies at the forefront of both.

“Emil Andrae is a player I’ve watched for a number of years now,” Chayka told reporters after acquiring Andrae from the Flyers. “Our staff felt good about him. He’s a smart, competitive player, 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. 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.”

Although he’s not a flashy name, Andrae recorded two goals and 13 points in 61 games with the Flyers last season. Philadelphia controlled 55 percent of the expected goals when he was on the ice at 5-on-5 in 2024-25, along with a 51 percent share in 2025-26. He didn’t always live up to internal expectations with the Flyers, but the Leafs have secured a younger, mobile bottom-six piece, that is certainly valued by analytically-minded executives.

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