LIAS ANDERSSON - Center - 20 - Drafted 2017 #7 Overall
LAST UPDATED 3/7/19
A top-10 pick in 2017, the Rangers selected Andersson out of HV71 of the SHL because of his mature, developed 2-way play style and his moderate offensive upside. Since being drafted, though, Andersson has struggled to consistently develop on North American ice and his outlook going forward is considerably more pessimistic than it was a the time of the draft. His two-way strengths are still intact, and he can be trusted to play a shutdown role with high level penalty killing duties at the AHL level, and he can also play responsibly in his own end at the NHL level. With those defensive strengths, though, come his offensive deficiencies. He has struggled to produce consistently as a top line forward in AHL Hartford, and his NHL production is anemic. While it must be recognized that he is playing as a bottom six player on a weak Rangers team, fans undoubtedly expect more than seven career points in 34 games out of their former top-10 pick. Going forward, Andersson will need to significantly develop his offensive game if he wants a chance at becoming a top-6 center, but given his defensive play he at the very least has a floor of a good shutdown 3C.
A top-10 pick in 2017, the Rangers selected Andersson out of HV71 of the SHL because of his mature, developed 2-way play style and his moderate offensive upside. Since being drafted, though, Andersson has struggled to consistently develop on North American ice and his outlook going forward is considerably more pessimistic than it was a the time of the draft. His two-way strengths are still intact, and he can be trusted to play a shutdown role with high level penalty killing duties at the AHL level, and he can also play responsibly in his own end at the NHL level. With those defensive strengths, though, come his offensive deficiencies. He has struggled to produce consistently as a top line forward in AHL Hartford, and his NHL production is anemic. While it must be recognized that he is playing as a bottom six player on a weak Rangers team, fans undoubtedly expect more than seven career points in 34 games out of their former top-10 pick. Going forward, Andersson will need to significantly develop his offensive game if he wants a chance at becoming a top-6 center, but given his defensive play he at the very least has a floor of a good shutdown 3C.
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