It's always disappointing to have a strong camp at the beginning of the new season and then be sent down to the minors. It's even more disappointing when you sustain an injury after being sent down to the affiliate.
This is precisely what happened to Emil Andrae, a 21-year-old defenseman who stands at 5 feet 9 inches and weighs 181 pounds. He was sent down to The Phantoms to play significant minutes to aid in his development.
Andrae, the 54th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Flyers in the second round, suffered an injury that forced him to leave the game.
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It appeared that he was near the bench when he took a hard hit, causing him to briefly get up and then fall again. It seems that he may have been seriously shaken by the impact.
During his ten games with The Phantoms last season, he scored two goals, recorded four assists for a total of six points, and accumulated six penalty minutes.
If the coaching staff and management believe that he needs more time in the minors, it's in his best interest to play as many minutes as possible to be ready for the next call-up.