The Philadelphia Flyers may be without a key defenseman when they open their season against the Vancouver Canucks in British Columbia Friday night.
According to Jackie Spiegel of the Philadelphia Inquirer, veteran defenseman Nick Seeler is still day-to-day after blocking a shot in a preseason game against the Boston Bruins. As a result, the Flyers are expected to recall 22-year-old blueliner Emil Andrae from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, who will join the club ahead of its Saturday tilt against the Calgary Flames.
Seeler, while not much of an offensive threat, is a key cog on the Flyers’ blue line. Last season, he ranked fifth out of all NHL defensemen with a whopping 205 blocked shots despite missing 11 games. His willingness to block shots is one of his most valuable traits, but it also comes with an increased susceptibility to injuries.
If Seeler is unable to suit up in one or more of the Flyers’ upcoming road games, Andrae serves as a viable replacement. The 2020 second-round pick was impressive throughout training camp, logging a goal and five points in four preseason appearances.
Andrae and Seeler play very different brands of hockey. While Seeler is more of a physical, “stay-at-home” presence, Andrae, only 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, is a strong puck-mover with upside as a power-play contributor.
Andrae made the Flyers out of training camp to begin the 2023-24 campaign, but was reassigned to Lehigh Valley after struggling in his four NHL appearances. With the Phantoms, though, he was excellent, posting five goals and 32 points in 61 games.
With Andrae not expected to join the Flyers until Saturday, expect veteran defender Erik Johnson to suit up for the Flyers’ season opener in Vancouver. Johnson, 36, appeared in 17 games for the Flyers last season after being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline. He logged a pair of goals and one assist in those outings.
