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

[nyr__1994]

I like Mittelstadt, but he’s not a $120k sports car. Sorry.

But that goes back to something I’ve said for months.

The people who don’t like Andersson are careful about making sure they keep taking someone else’s absolute, positively highest upside and in turn comparing it to the lower end of Andersson’s upside. Then we double down on it by inflating the flashier players odds of reaching that peak while downplaying Andersson’s odds of reaching his.

And yet, while his detractors keep focusing on their belief that Andersson lacks offensive potential and was drafted primarily on a long list of intangibles, the kid has actually scored, and scored at in some pretty interesting situations.

I don’t think the argument is that Mittelstadt isn’t a heck of a prospect. Its about whether Andersson is also a heck of a prospect - albeit one with different strengths and weaknesses.

It seems that the best argument we can come up is that Mittelstadt’s offense is the end all be all and trumps anything and everything Andersson does that Mittelstadt doesn’t. Personally, I don’t think that’s necessarily the case.

I see one player who has higher offensive ceiling, but isnt as strong defensively or who might not contribute as much when he isn’t scoring.

I see another player with a lower offensive ceiling, but who can contribute other aspects when the pucks aren’t going in.

I see both doing it as lower levels of competition, but I feel I have to wait and see how they do against the better competition.

I don’t think Mittelstadt’s accomplishments diminish Andersson’s, nor vice versa.

But this is an Internet Message Board and I have to win every argument and beat everyone down that doesn't agree with me, until they agree with me.

I love this exchange that @Edge and @Kovalev27 are having because it is staying civil and it is interesting to see how much the goal posts have moved on Lias to keep insinuating that he was a bad pick with the #7 spot.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I agree.

Andersson's offense has been excellent to this point in his career, and it's only because of selective reading of scouting reports that people think he's a defensive one-trick pony.

I doubt any of us were clamouring to take him at number seven, but he is a hell of a prospect.

That, and people not understanding the importance of quality of opposition. Andersson isn't a flashy player, he isn't a guy who skates circles around opponents but unfortunately, that is what people look at when judging prospects. Especially the top-10 in the draft. There is more to hockey than just box scores. Andersson is a complete player and having followed him all season in the CHL, SHL and JWC, I am quite happy to have him on the team for what he is. An all-round center who has great vision and impacts the game in more ways than one.

 

[Edge]

But this is an Internet Message Board and I have to win every argument and beat everyone down that doesn't agree with me, until they agree with me.

I love this exchange that @Edge and @Kovalev27 are having because it is staying civil and it is interesting to see how much the goal posts have moved on Lias to keep insinuating that he was a bad pick with the #7 spot.

For the record, I’m perfectly okay if someone likes another prospect more than a Andersson. That’s life.

I just want to avoid dismissing or downplaying what Andersson has accomplished this season, because he’s having a very good post draft year. He’s playing in all kinds of situations, with all kinds of teammates, in a variety of roles, and he’s scoring and contributing. All at the age of 19.

I mean let’s call a spade a spade, he’s performing well!

BOTH Andersson AND Chytil are doing well for themselves as TEENAGERS in the AHL.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

And just like that Andersson now has 5 points in his first 6 AHL games.

 

[Edge]

And just like that Andersson now has 4 points in his first 5 AHL games.

Four in six, but yes, he is adjusting and performing.

He keeps doing that. Over and over.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

For the record, I’m perfectly okay if someone likes another prospect more than a Andersson. That’s life.

I just want to avoid dismissing or downplaying what Andersson has accomplished this season, because he’s having a very good post draft year. He’s playing in all kinds of situations, with all kinds of teammates, in a variety of roles, and he’s scoring and contributing. All at the age of 19.

I mean let’s call a spade a spade, he’s performing well!

BOTH Andersson AND Chytil are doing well for themselves as TEENAGERS in the AHL.

For real.

The hysterics and calling this pick a failure (7 months after it was made) are just stupid, especially when hes actually produced/played well this year.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Four in six, but yes, he is adjusting and performing.

He keeps doing that. Over and over.

He got 1 goal 2 assists today. Assisted on OT winner too.

 

[McRanger]

Four in six, but yes, he is adjusting and performing.

He keeps doing that. Over and over.

Typical Edge. Looking for reasons to put Lias down by taking away hit OT point.

FOR SHAME.

 

[eco's bones]

Andersson's offensive ceiling might not be quite as high as a few other forwards taken around him but it's still pretty good. This year:

Frolunda--SHL 22gp-7g-7as-14pts-20pm
WJC-Sweden 7gp-6g-1as--7pts--6pm
Hartford--AHL 6gp-1g--4as-5pts--0pm---coming off of a separated shoulder injury at the WJC tournament.

That's 14 goals and 26 points in 35 games played against some pretty damned strong competition (the WJC tournament was the weakest of it all)--and throw in a serious shoulder injury for a 19 year old. Too me it's kind of impressive actually.

Andersson also offers intangibles that other forwards selected around him don't or don't yet. He's good defensively. He plays with grit and determination. He has a no nonsense throwback kind of demeanor when he's playing--very apparent leadership qualities. There's almost nothing not to like so far IMO.

 

[haveandare]

Look, there very well may be a kid picked after Andersson who is better.

That’s always the possibility.

Andersson was in no way the prospect with the highest projected offensive ceiling. I don’t know if anyone would make that argument with a straight face.

But just because his peak offensive ceiling isn’t as high, doesn’t mean it’s a low ceiling.

If past drafts are any indication there will almost certainly be multiple guys picked after him who end up better, and likely someone before him who ends up worse.

And that's fine. That's how the draft goes. He's a very exciting prospect Imo.

 

[haohmaru]

Lias, aka, "The Reach", "Bust", Andersson with 5 points in 6 AHL games and 3rd star of today's afternoon contest. I look forward to this guy in a couple of years on the ice at MSG.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Four in six, but yes, he is adjusting and performing.

He keeps doing that. Over and over.

This reeks of rooting against Andersson

 

[Kovalev27]

The problem with Andersson is not Andersson as a player. He by all means is and will be a good player. The problem is the selection at 7. For a franchise devoid of any elite talent that rarely picks in the top 10 to take a safe player to fill an immediate need instead of going for high end talent is the problem.

Does anyone here project Lias as a first line player? If so I’d like to hear that argument. This team desperately needs first line talent. We did not pick a kid 7th overall that could be that kind of player and there in lies the frustration. Couple that with the fact that the kid was not nearly close to nhl ready as projected and it makes it even tougher to swallow.

Now if someone that has seen Lias play and almost everyone has here can tell me they think he has first line center written on him as even a projection! Well then I’d be really shocked.

Now ask me who here doesn’t see Mittlestadt as a projected first line player?

 

[Ori]

Maybe people should also stop expecting this kid to slot in a top 9 slot next year from opening night. Patience is key with him and Chytil.

I`m fine with that, but are young talents good enough they should play indeed. It has been a while since Rangers had two top #21 prospects in a draft.

 

[SnowFort]

Why does it matter that Lias was picked 7th now? The pick is already done. You can’t change it. Moaning just for the sake of making your opinion about it heard seems pointless and will no doubt just provoke others into arguing with you.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

The problem with Andersson is not Andersson as a player. He by all means is and will be a good player. The problem is the selection at 7. For a franchise devoid of any elite talent that rarely picks in the top 10 to take a safe player to fill an immediate need instead of going for high end talent is the problem.

Does anyone here project Lias as a first line player? If so I’d like to hear that argument. This team desperately needs first line talent. We did not pick a kid 7th overall that could be that kind of player and there in lies the frustration. Couple that with the fact that the kid was not nearly close to nhl ready as projected and it makes it even tougher to swallow.

Now if someone that has seen Lias play and almost everyone has here can tell me they think he has first line center written on him as even a projection! Well then I’d be really shocked.

Now ask me who here doesn’t see Mittlestadt as a projected first line player?

 

[NYR Viper]

The problem with Andersson is not Andersson as a player. He by all means is and will be a good player. The problem is the selection at 7. For a franchise devoid of any elite talent that rarely picks in the top 10 to take a safe player to fill an immediate need instead of going for high end talent is the problem.

Does anyone here project Lias as a first line player? If so I’d like to hear that argument. This team desperately needs first line talent. We did not pick a kid 7th overall that could be that kind of player and there in lies the frustration. Couple that with the fact that the kid was not nearly close to nhl ready as projected and it makes it even tougher to swallow.

Now if someone that has seen Lias play and almost everyone has here can tell me they think he has first line center written on him as even a projection! Well then I’d be really shocked.

Now ask me who here doesn’t see Mittlestadt as a projected first line player?

Re-read this and ask yourself, is this at all biased? You pretty much state, as a fact, that if anyone thins Andersson has 1st line upside that they are going against your own opinion and you will not hear it. And then you say the exact OPPOSITE about Mittlestadt. There are easy arguments for Andersson as a 1C and against Mittlestadt as a 1C.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

The problem with Andersson is not Andersson as a player. He by all means is and will be a good player. The problem is the selection at 7. For a franchise devoid of any elite talent that rarely picks in the top 10 to take a safe player to fill an immediate need instead of going for high end talent is the problem.

Does anyone here project Lias as a first line player? If so I’d like to hear that argument. This team desperately needs first line talent. We did not pick a kid 7th overall that could be that kind of player and there in lies the frustration. Couple that with the fact that the kid was not nearly close to nhl ready as projected and it makes it even tougher to swallow.

Now if someone that has seen Lias play and almost everyone has here can tell me they think he has first line center written on him as even a projection! Well then I’d be really shocked.

Now ask me who here doesn’t see Mittlestadt as a projected first line player?

I rest my case

 

[haveandare]

Nothing that isn't in the post two pages ago.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

The problem with Andersson is not Andersson as a player. He by all means is and will be a good player. The problem is the selection at 7. For a franchise devoid of any elite talent that rarely picks in the top 10 to take a safe player to fill an immediate need instead of going for high end talent is the problem.

Does anyone here project Lias as a first line player? If so I’d like to hear that argument. This team desperately needs first line talent. We did not pick a kid 7th overall that could be that kind of player and there in lies the frustration. Couple that with the fact that the kid was not nearly close to nhl ready as projected and it makes it even tougher to swallow.

Now if someone that has seen Lias play and almost everyone has here can tell me they think he has first line center written on him as even a projection! Well then I’d be really shocked.

Now ask me who here doesn’t see Mittlestadt as a projected first line player?

This post is painfully devoid of context. Last June, the Rangers were in dire need of a potentially NHL-ready center. Things didn't work out as quickly as one would like, but your post just completely ignores the situation in June, 2017.

 

[haohmaru]

The problem with Andersson is not Andersson as a player. He by all means is and will be a good player. The problem is the selection at 7. For a franchise devoid of any elite talent that rarely picks in the top 10 to take a safe player to fill an immediate need instead of going for high end talent is the problem.

Does anyone here project Lias as a first line player? If so I’d like to hear that argument. This team desperately needs first line talent. We did not pick a kid 7th overall that could be that kind of player and there in lies the frustration. Couple that with the fact that the kid was not nearly close to nhl ready as projected and it makes it even tougher to swallow.

Now if someone that has seen Lias play and almost everyone has here can tell me they think he has first line center written on him as even a projection! Well then I’d be really shocked.

Now ask me who here doesn’t see Mittlestadt as a projected first line player?

Put the crystal ball away, wait 2-3 years, and let's have this conversation again.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

This post is painfully devoid of context. Last June, the Rangers were in dire need of a potentially NHL-ready center. Things didn't work out as quickly as one would like, but your post just completely ignores the situation in June, 2017.

It also states exactly what Edge has said.

He looks at Mittelstadt based on the most favourable projection, and compares him to Andersson based on the least favourable projection.

 

[Edge]

If past drafts are any indication there will almost certainly be multiple guys picked after him who end up better, and likely someone before him who ends up worse.

And that's fine. That's how the draft goes. He's a very exciting prospect Imo.

And we have to accept that as an almost certainty.

And part of that acceptance is that we can’t sit back and focus on a couple of players who will be better and ignore everyone who isn’t.

Even if we seem hellbent on the former at times.

 

[NYR Viper]

Could you imagine if the Rangers traded up to 2nd and drafted Patrick? Imagine the absolute bitch-fest that would still be happening. I mean my God, you would think Andersson had put up 1 point all season and had gained 20 lbs mid-season by eating in every Nathan's hot dog eating competition known to man.

 

[haveandare]

The problem with Andersson is not Andersson as a player. He by all means is and will be a good player. The problem is the selection at 7. For a franchise devoid of any elite talent that rarely picks in the top 10 to take a safe player to fill an immediate need instead of going for high end talent is the problem.

Does anyone here project Lias as a first line player? If so I’d like to hear that argument. This team desperately needs first line talent. We did not pick a kid 7th overall that could be that kind of player and there in lies the frustration. Couple that with the fact that the kid was not nearly close to nhl ready as projected and it makes it even tougher to swallow.

Now if someone that has seen Lias play and almost everyone has here can tell me they think he has first line center written on him as even a projection! Well then I’d be really shocked.

Now ask me who here doesn’t see Mittlestadt as a projected first line player?

The team also needs NHL bodies who are talented, young and cheap. You never seem to mention this. They need an elite talent and they swung for one with Chytil. That's looking pretty good. They also needed a guy who had very good chances of being a quality NHL player in the near future, so they went with the guy who everyone thought that of, and that's looking good too. You might think those guys are easy to find in later rounds, but they're not as any draft will show you in hindsight.

Honestly, do you truly care if anyone projects Lias as a first line player? Do you have any intention at all of actually hearing someone argue that and attempting to see where they're coming from? Because it seems pretty obvious that your mind is already made up.