Prospect Info: Round 2, Pick 54: Emil Andrae, D, HV71 (SHL)

[deadhead]

You must have forgotten during WJCs when Zamula > Sanheim. Or the run Zamula went on last year after getting PP time.

They are different players. Zamula will never be all over the ice noticeable like Andrae was last game. He’s going to play with the game in front of him. He’s going to pass his way out of trouble. Andrae is an attacking defenseman. He’s going to try to go around forecheckers. While noticeable is usually good, like the other night, it’s can be a dangerous game when you skate like Andrae.

If you think Andrae can play every game like he did against San Jose, well then everyone underrated him and he’s one of the best prospects in hockey. Not to sound like a certain poster, but I feel like we need to point out that he had 14 ES points last year in the AHL. Zamula at the same age had 24. Nearly double the per game rate. And that was Andrae’s 5th (partial) pro season. That’s not insignificant.

I’ve watched/followed Andrae for parts of six seasons now. That was the best individual game I ever saw from him. And I thought early in his draft year he was an easy first rounder. Then the more you watched the more the warts started to show. Including being downright terrible in his D+1. He can be very mistake prone and his aggressive style at his size and skating profile can backfire.

tl;dr his play is very encouraging right now. Be excited. But there is a reason he was only seen as merely a good prospect and not a great one. Hell the team had Ginning pegged above him coming into the season and Andrae “won” the 8th spot by default. He’s taken advantage of the opportunity. Good for him.

The sky is falling, we agree on something!

Andrae right now is 3rd pair playing 2nd pair minutes, much like Risto.
San Jose isn't exactly a strong defensive team, and they don't have much of a forecheck so I wouldn't read too much into this game.
But Andrae skated better than I can ever remember, and given his skill package, skating is a key to his success.

Zamula has below average speed, but a smooth skater with good vision and is a good passer.
But as Torts pointed out, he's been slow in his decision making, and other teams have noticed that and are pressuring him early, hoping to force him into a mistake.

The travails of a young player, flash talent, opposing HCs study film, attack your weaknesses. Can you adjust?

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

@JojoTheWhale

 

[Larry44]

You must have forgotten during WJCs when Zamula > Sanheim. Or the run Zamula went on last year after getting PP time.

They are different players. Zamula will never be all over the ice noticeable like Andrae was last game. He’s going to play with the game in front of him. He’s going to pass his way out of trouble. Andrae is an attacking defenseman. He’s going to try to go around forecheckers. While noticeable is usually good, like the other night, it’s can be a dangerous game when you skate like Andrae.

If you think Andrae can play every game like he did against San Jose, well then everyone underrated him and he’s one of the best prospects in hockey. Not to sound like a certain poster, but I feel like we need to point out that he had 14 ES points last year in the AHL. Zamula at the same age had 24. Nearly double the per game rate. And that was Andrae’s 5th (partial) pro season. That’s not insignificant.

I’ve watched/followed Andrae for parts of six seasons now. That was the best individual game I ever saw from him. And I thought early in his draft year he was an easy first rounder. Then the more you watched the more the warts started to show. Including being downright terrible in his D+1. He can be very mistake prone and his aggressive style at his size and skating profile can backfire.

tl;dr his play is very encouraging right now. Be excited. But there is a reason he was only seen as merely a good prospect and not a great one. Hell the team had Ginning pegged above him coming into the season and Andrae “won” the 8th spot by default. He’s taken advantage of the opportunity. Good for him.

Zamula has been getting a beating here, but he's exactly the kind of player they need to keep developing. He's 24, into his 2nd full season after some AHL seasoning, big and rangy, skates well, stands up at the blueline, and makes excellent breakout passes. He was surprisingly good on the PP last year.

 

[deadhead]

Zamula has been getting a beating here, but he's exactly the kind of player they need to keep developing. He's 24, into his 2nd full season after some AHL seasoning, big and rangy, skates well, stands up at the blueline, and makes excellent breakout passes. He was surprisingly good on the PP last year.

Zamula is a fluid skater, but he's slow, which means he's not going to skate end to end.
And his height means it's harder to protect the puck when pressured.
So his key to success is quick, smart decision making.
He's a good passer with a good shot from the point, but if he turns it over at the blue line, he's going to lose the race.

Edge
2023-24
Top speed 20.40, average 21.67
Bursts over 20+, 8, average 30
Distance/60: 8.66, average 8.51
2024-25
Top speed 20.08, average 21.05
Bursts over 20+, 1, average 7.3
Distance/60: 8.79, average 8.54

 

[CerpinTaxt]

Zamula has been getting a beating here, but he's exactly the kind of player they need to keep developing. He's 24, into his 2nd full season after some AHL seasoning, big and rangy, skates well, stands up at the blueline, and makes excellent breakout passes. He was surprisingly good on the PP last year.

Zamula should definitely play over the corpse of EJ
Sanheim-Andrae
York-Risto
Zamula-Seeler
Drysdale can "learn" in the pressbox

 

[deadhead]

Zamula should definitely play over the corpse of EJ
Sanheim-Andrae
York-Risto
Zamula-Seeler
Drysdale can "learn" in the pressbox

I thought we're rebuilding?
York - Sanheim
Andrae - Risto
Seeler - Drysdale
Zamula

They have to use this season to see if they can develop Drysdale.
If it doesn't work, move on this summer.
But living with player struggles is part of rebuilding.
Drysdale is 22, Andrae 22, York 23, Zamula 24.

 

[Hanover Fist]

What’s wrong with sending Drysdale down to the AHL. It seems to have helped York and Emil.Is he not waiver exempt?

 

[FLYguy3911]

What’s wrong with sending Drysdale down to the AHL. It seems to have helped York and Emil.

He'd have to go on waivers.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

Another example of ELC's and their importance.

 

[FatTugboatFlahr]

They could’ve also just trade for a good player.

Thankfully we had enough injuries on defense that Andrae got a chance to prove he was immediately better than everyone not named Sanheim.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

He'd have to go on waivers.

Oh darn

 

[Larry44]

Zamula should definitely play over the corpse of EJ
Sanheim-Andrae
York-Risto
Zamula-Seeler
Drysdale can "learn" in the pressbox

This stupid organization. There was no need for EJ after re-upping Seeler. There is never a need for Risto, please trade him at TDL. Someone gullible is out there.

I'd like to see how Grans and Ginning do at the NHL level again, over wasting icetime on Risto and Seeler.

Winning this year is not important. Seeing if any of the kids can play should be the priority.

They have to stop the lukewarm accidental tank and get on with a real one.

 

[Magua]

Thankfully we had enough injuries on defense that Andrae got a chance to prove he was immediately better than everyone not named Sanheim.

Can you imagine if Andrae had to fight for minutes with Drysdale and Krug? Thankfully, they’d still probably have enough injuries on defense.

 

[Deadpool8812]

What a soft f***ing call

 

[CanadianFlyer88]

What a soft f***ing call

Sir, this is an Andrae's.

 

[Fight4yourRight]

Not to channel Deadhead level body obsession, but the guy is built like a coke can. You don’t really see him getting pushed around.

 

[Magua]

Not to channel Deadhead level body obsession, but the guy is built like a coke can

I can tell erotica isn’t your forte. Allow me to deadify:

“Emil Andrae is 190 lbs of delicious Swedish meatball, with a sturdy frame put on this earth to bang and be banged. Emil is not tall in stature, but make no mistake, he is man-sized. And yet, his hands are so gentle, his touch so soft…..”