Prospect Info: 2017 NHL Draft / Pick #7 - Lias Andersson (C)

[Alluckks]

Of course but these would be the reasons before the start of the season, not in the middle of it

Letting him go home for a few months allows him to get his affairs in order. Let's him settle down and take a breath after what was likely a whirlwind of the draft and training camp and everything.

Gave him a chance to compete with the same teammates again in the WJC, which obviously meant a lot to him, gave him a chance to say goodbye to teammates in the SEL, gave him a chance to see what his shot at the Olympics were, and let him do whatever he needs with friends and family - as his life is about to change drastically.

Keeping tabs moreso now than before the season because of the injury he endured - you want Ranger doctors examining him and our staff making sure he doesn't further the injury, which couldn't be guaranteed in the SEL.

Have him play with Chytil, Lettieri, Nieves, Graves, Pionk, etc.

Lastly, having him here from the beginning of the season doesn't preclude the advantage of bringing him over mid-season. It makes sense so have him here now, so the organization is doing just that.

 

[kovazub94]

Letting him go home for a few months allows him to get his affairs in order. Let's him settle down and take a breath after what was likely a whirlwind of the draft and training camp and everything.

Gave him a chance to compete with the same teammates again in the WJC, which obviously meant a lot to him, gave him a chance to say goodbye to teammates in the SEL, gave him a chance to see what his shot at the Olympics were, and let him do whatever he needs with friends and family - as his life is about to change drastically.

Keeping tabs moreso now than before the season because of the injury he endured - you want Ranger doctors examining him and our staff making sure he doesn't further the injury, which couldn't be guaranteed in the SEL.

Have him play with Chytil, Lettieri, Nieves, Graves, Pionk, etc.

Lastly, having him here from the beginning of the season doesn't preclude the advantage of bringing him over mid-season. It makes sense so have him here now, so the organization is doing just that.

Again, there's nothing here that he wouldn't had an opportunity to do in September. Bringing him over here now after he had settled with his club in Sweden and had a shot to play for the Olympic team, to me means that he's bound for the NHL at some point this season.

 

[Levitate]

Again, there's nothing here that he wouldn't had an opportunity to do in September. Bringing him over here now after he had settled with his club in Sweden and had a shot to play for the Olympic team, to me means that he's bound for the NHL at some point this season.

I agree but honestly I still find it kind of strange. If I had to guess the thought process was basically "send him back, let him settle down, see how he does at the WJC and make a decision about bringing him back after that". He had a real good WJC so they brought him back to NA and I wouldn't be surprised if Gorton was already thinking of selling his pending UFA's at that point and figured he'd set a guy like Lias up to get some NHL time at the end of the season.

As for his game in general, I think criticisms of his skating are kind of overrated. He's probably a better skater than Stepan was, but it'd be nice to see some improvement as well. It always depends a little on how a player uses their skating ability...he doesn't have to be the best skater to be a very effective player, as on ice awareness, positioning, and reading of the play is often more important. But we'll see how it pans out

 

[BroadwayStorm]

I have decided to become a Lias Andersson supporter.

 

[Edge]

Frankly, I was surprised they didn't keep both Andersson and Chytil in Hartford at the start of the season.

Obviously, Andersson's play in a pro league and in the WJC convinced them to let him play the second half in the AHL.

I expect both will also get some looks at the NHL level before the season is done.

 

[Levitate]

I wouldn't be surprised if they burn an ELC year for one or both of them depending on what happens with trades

 

[Alluckks]

I wouldn't be surprised if they burn an ELC year for one or both of them depending on what happens with trades

That would be dumb though

 

[Alluckks]

Actually, I take it back - if we make overhaul trades, and bring up Chytil and Andersson for 7 games near the end of the season, and somehow are in position to make the playoffs nonetheless - I would be in favor of burning a year of their ELC to have them play it out, make the playoffs, and get that awesome experience.

 

[nyr__1994]

I wouldn't be surprised if they burn an ELC year for one or both of them depending on what happens with trades

Burning a year off of their ELC is not nearly as important to teams than accruing a season towards Free Agency. As long as that year is not accrued the team still has the same number of years where the player is cost controlled.

To me it doesn't matter if the ELC is burned this year or not, neither player is going to be up for enough games to accrue a full season toward free agency.

 

[Fitzy]

Burning a year off of their ELC is not nearly as important to teams than accruing a season towards Free Agency. As long as that year is not accrued the team still has the same number of years where the player is cost controlled.

To me it doesn't matter if the ELC is burned this year or not, neither player is going to be up for enough games to accrue a full season toward free agency.

Cost-control isn't a binary variable. An ELC is cheaper than non-arbitration eligible RFA years, those are cheaper than arbitration eligible years, which are cheaper than UFA.

Having good productive players contribute for 3 years before making more than a million dollars on the salary cap is worth its weight in gold.

 

[Levitate]

I think fans probably rate that ELC stuff higher than teams do though...I think a team will burn a year on the ELC if they feel it would really help the development of a young player and position them to start with the team next season.

Playing 9 NHL games probably isn't going to be getting Chytil or Andersson enough meaningful experience to help them prepare to make the team next season. Playing the final 19 games certainly could and yeah if they managed to make the playoffs then it'd be even bigger, but they're not likely to be in the lineup in the playoffs without those final 19 games of experience.

Basically I'm saying I think it just comes down to how the team views their development. If they play great in the AHL for these next 3.5 weeks and the Rangers trade several players and open up holes in the lineup, I can absolutely see Andersson and Chytil getting a chance.

 

[Irishguy42]

Yes, I believe Cullen or someone from TSN stated that it's common knowledge that GMs don't care about the 10 game mark as much as they care about the 40 game mark.

 

[Kovalev27]

Both kids are coming up once the moves are made.

Lias was sent to Sweden because he looked awful in camp. Would have been the wrong decision to throw him to the A where as chytil looked ready for it. Lias went home played well then had a great wjc. Got his confidence back. Now it needs to translate. The timing is right for him right now to be down there.

He doesn’t have nhl wheels right now that needs to improve but i expect Chytil Andersson Nieves and Lettieri to be back up by the deadline.

 

[Levitate]

I don't think his camp was awful so much as disappointing considering what were all being told to expect

 

[UnSandvich]

I don't think his camp was awful so much as disappointing considering what were all being told to expect

I don't even think it was that. If you look back at his travel schedule, he was probably absolutely exhausted. Unsurprising he wasn't ready for the show yet

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Both kids are coming up once the moves are made.

Lias was sent to Sweden because he looked awful in camp. Would have been the wrong decision to throw him to the A where as chytil looked ready for it. Lias went home played well then had a great wjc. Got his confidence back. Now it needs to translate. The timing is right for him right now to be down there.

He doesn’t have nhl wheels right now that needs to improve but i expect Chytil Andersson Nieves and Lettieri to be back up by the deadline.

The reason Chytil was kept in the AHL is because Zlin and the Extraliga are not even close to Hartford and the AHL.

With Lias, the Rangers had a good team and league he was contracted to. Frolnda in the SHL (And CHL) was a great environment to develop. It is not so much "Why did they send Lias back" but mroe "Why did they not send Chytil back?" Neither were ready for the NHL.

Both were similar in camp and pre-season in their designated roles. But for Chytil there just wasn't a good option in Europe to develop.

 

[kovazub94]

The reason Chytil was kept in the AHL is because Zlin and the Extraliga are not even close to Hartford and the AHL.

With Lias, the Rangers had a good team and league he was contracted to. Frolnda in the SHL (And CHL) was a great environment to develop. It is not so much "Why did they send Lias back" but mroe "Why did they not send Chytil back?" Neither were ready for the NHL.

Both were similar in camp and pre-season in their designated roles. But for Chytil there just wasn't a good option in Europe to develop.

Disagree. I think Rangers had designs on Lias being with Rangers or in Hartford at the start of the season, but his camp was underwhelming/disappointing (for the reasons we have discussed) that resulted in him being sent to SHL (agree with your views on why FO was fine with him developing there). After his game picked up overseas and an excellent outing in wjc the original plan was back on, sort of, with new factors in play as well - expected sell off of UFAs etc)

Chytil was suppose to go back to Zlin but his unexpectedly fast development (and folded plans regarding Lias) resulted in him getting two NHL games. He wasn’t ready for it but I believe the info flying around at that time that he convinced FO to keep him in NA to see if he’s up to play in the AHL, and potentially getting another shot with the Rangers. I bet if he showed that he wasn’t ready to play in the AHL he’d be back in Czech within a month or so.

 

[nyr2k2]

Disagree. I think Rangers had designs on Lias being with Rangers or in Hartford at the start of the season, but his camp was underwhelming/disappointing (for the reasons we have discussed) that resulted in him being sent to SHL (agree with your views on why FO was fine with him developing there). After his game picked up overseas and an excellent outing in wjc the original plan was back on, sort of, with new factors in play as well - expected sell off of UFAs etc)

Chytil was suppose to go back to Zlin but his unexpectedly fast development (and folded plans regarding Lias) resulted in him getting two NHL games. He wasn’t ready for it but I believe the info flying around at that time that he convinced FO to keep him in NA to see if he’s up to play in the AHL, and potentially getting another shot with the Rangers. I bet if he showed that he wasn’t ready to play in the AHL he’d be back in Czech within a month or so.

This is pretty much exactly how I think things played out.

 

[TheTakedown]

Burning a year off of their ELC is not nearly as important to teams than accruing a season towards Free Agency. As long as that year is not accrued the team still has the same number of years where the player is cost controlled.

To me it doesn't matter if the ELC is burned this year or not, neither player is going to be up for enough games to accrue a full season toward free agency.

but its an extra year of a good player at $1M

 

[Edge]

I don't think his camp was awful so much as disappointing considering what were all being told to expect

Yeah, I didn't think he looked awful either.

I would've liked to have seen more from him, but he wasn't a disaster out there.

Man, I've never, ever seen the kind of narratives created for a young player the way we're doing it for Andersson at times.

 

[Miamipuck]

Yeah, I didn't think he looked awful either.

I would've liked to have seen more from him, but he wasn't a disaster out there.

Man, I've never, ever seen the kind of narratives created for a young player the way we're doing it for Andersson at times.

Just wait until this year in the possible sell off and the Rangers pick another guy people aren't that happy with, everyone will be saying why can't this guy be more like Lias. You will look back on this thread and shake your head.

 

[Samuel Culper III]

Rangers fans are going to love this kid. He’s a warrior. He had enough all around skill to be drafted in the top 10 and was a surefire 1st rounders (at the very least) to most every scout. He is skilled he just doesn’t have particular stand out skills. They’re all well rounded. If he continues to improve with age and strength and experience he can easily be a feistier Ryan O’Reilly type. I think he will endear himself to Rangers fans quickly.

 

[Aahlstroem]

Has there been any talk in media in NA about Lias going back to Sweden?

Johan Rylander who writes about Frölunda for the local paper Göteborgs-Posten wrote this article: Lias Andersson har inte stängt dörren för Frölunda. Since it's behind a paywall I don't know the whole story but in the beginning Lias is quoted saying "I'd enjoy finishing what I've started - with a Swedish Championship win and Götaplatsen". Rylander loves his big headlines and clickbait though, so you should always take what he says with a grain of salt.

 

[lucky13]

Has there been any talk in media in NA about Lias going back to Sweden?

Johan Rylander who writes about Frölunda for the local paper Göteborgs-Posten wrote this article: Lias Andersson har inte stängt dörren för Frölunda. Since it's behind a paywall I don't know the whole story but in the beginning Lias is quoted saying "I'd enjoy finishing what I've started - with a Swedish Championship win and Götaplatsen". Rylander loves his big headlines and clickbait though, so you should always take what he says with a grain of salt.

There has not.... at least not that I have seen anyways

 

[Griffinbw]