The Flyers loaned Emil Andrae to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley ahead of the NHL roster freeze at 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday.

The 22-year-old defenseman was back in the lineup for the team’s 7-3 loss to the Kings on Thursday night. He had been a healthy substitute for the last three games and came back in place of Cam York, who was on the bench.

According to a source, sending Andrae to the Phantoms was about the flexibility of the Flyers’ roster. The Flyers had two additional defenders on duty. But they only have 12 healthy forwards. So if they need to recall one, they now have a squad spot available. Players can still be recalled during the roster freeze, which ends next Saturday at 12:01 p.m. ET.

The Flyers have two games left before the NHL-mandated holiday break. They host the Blue Jackets on Saturday (7:00 p.m. ET/NBCSP) and visit the Penguins on Monday (7:00 p.m. ET/NBCSP+).

Andrae has given the Flyers’ defense a real boost in 20 games. He recorded one goal, four assists and a plus-3 rating in 19:18 minutes per game. He found chemistry with Rasmus Ristolainen and showed potential for a place in the top 4.

But Andrae has been “battling it” lately, John Tortorella said just over a week ago, and he is still exempt from waivers, making it easier for the Flyers to send him to the Lehigh Valley. The Flyers still want to develop Egor Zamula, a 24-year-old who has a minus-12 rating in 16:10 minutes per game but is not exempt from waivers.

One would think that Andrae has a good chance of returning to the Flyers soon.

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