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Player Discussion Lias Andersson: Part II

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Andersson is the type of guy that I think will benefit from an offseason of more conditioning and improved skating. One can only hope. I think he is going to be a solid NHLer, in what capacity? Who knows.
 
IMO I look at Lias and see a guy who needs to play with skilled wingers to show off his potential. He seems to me to be a facilitator, or at least potentially one, but as long as he's playing with bottom six plugs he's going to look like a bottom six plug. I could see him as a guy who helps his talented linemates succeed and in turn benefits from their success, but with the minutes he has gotten so far in NY it's just...he's playing with lower talent guys and the little good things he does do are not going to result in as much because of that, and in turn he's not going to get help from them.

He needs linemates that can make something happen when he generates a turnover, makes a nice little play to get some ice and then moves the puck to a teammate. He needs linemates that can help find him and set him up in a position to use his shot.

Maybe he gets that and still doesn't produce, I dunno for sure, but the game he's playing now is just "fight for puck, move to teammates, go fight in front of the net". In fact, I think he's doing too much fighting in front of the net, he's constantly tied up with opposing players in the middle of the ice
 
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I think that he has played better and needs to continue in the role of a 3rd line center. The problem that shows up is that if the Rangers are going with Chytil as 2C, that means that Howden would be wing. Of one of him or Lias plays 4C.
 
Levitate said:
IMO I look at Lias and see a guy who needs to play with skilled wingers to show off his potential. He seems to me to be a facilitator, or at least potentially one, but as long as he's playing with bottom six plugs he's going to look like a bottom six plug. I could see him as a guy who helps his talented linemates succeed and in turn benefits from their success, but with the minutes he has gotten so far in NY it's just...he's playing with lower talent guys and the little good things he does do are not going to result in as much because of that, and in turn he's not going to get help from them.

He needs linemates that can make something happen when he generates a turnover, makes a nice little play to get some ice and then moves the puck to a teammate. He needs linemates that can help find him and set him up in a position to use his shot.

Maybe he gets that and still doesn't produce, I dunno for sure, but the game he's playing now is just "fight for puck, move to teammates, go fight in front of the net". In fact, I think he's doing too much fighting in front of the net, he's constantly tied up with opposing players in the middle of the ice
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I think you hit the nail right on the head. Lias places himself in a "support" position all over the ice, which is a testament to his hockey IQ.

Unfortunately, when you make yourself the easy out on the breakout, the trailing forward on a zone entry or the net side tap-in threat - puck touches can be hard to come by. Lias can play a whole game where he puts himself in good spots all over the ice, but at the end of the day he might not have much to show for it. On one hand that is an extremely valuable skill when playing with high quality forwards, but on the other, I believe Lias possesses enough skill that a little selfishness would probably serve both himself and the team better.

Whatever the case, I still refuse to worry about him. I think his skating "deficiencies" have been overblown and that he gets around just fine (and he will continue to gain a step in the coming years as long as the FO has him with a skating coach). He'll obviously never bee a burner, but he "thinks" his way around the ice and knows where to be, and more importantly, when to be there.

In a nutshell, I'd rather have Lias leave early but arrive on time than Vesey quickly arrive to the wrong address.
 
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Haven't watched much honestly, but what I definitely see and LOVE most, are his defensive awareness and interception plays.

There is some hockey IQ and he'll only get better physically. Give him a fast finishing winger.

I somehow feel, people around here expect players development to just stop. Sure it slows down and declines at some point, but were talking max. 25 years old players here. These guys will gain experience, learn different styles and tactics, hit the weight room. And I believe they are talented.
 
Machinehead said:
My thing with Lias is not that he's struggling at 19/20.

Kreider would have been HORRENDOUS at that age. Zibanejad played at that age for Ottawa and he was pretty lousy.

The issue is that, when I look at Lias, I just don't see a ton of ability to build on. With Chytil, who is also struggling, I can at least see what he's potentially capable of.

Lias was advertised at the draft as "jack of all trades" and so far it's looking more like "master of none."
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Basically what I’ve been saying for a while...time will tell I guess.
 
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True Blue said:
I think that he has played better and needs to continue in the role of a 3rd line center. The problem that shows up is that if the Rangers are going with Chytil as 2C, that means that Howden would be wing. Of one of him or Lias plays 4C.
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not to mention what happens at the draft. if we get a little bit of luck and get Hughes, he is someone who is likely to play right away. Long shot there, but, less of a long shot is Cozens/Dach, two centers that might only need 1 more year in the minors.

3 of the top 6 players in this draft are centers, and we are likely getting one of those top 6 picks.
 
ElLeetch said:
not to mention what happens at the draft. if we get a little bit of luck and get Hughes, he is someone who is likely to play right away. Long shot there, but, less of a long shot is Cozens/Dach, two centers that might only need 1 more year in the minors.

3 of the top 6 players in this draft are centers, and we are likely getting one of those top 6 picks.
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If you are banking on those three, you may be in for a disappointment. But there is a chance that they take a center anyway in Zegras or Turcotte. All depends on who is available. But that does not change the Chytil/Howden/Anderson dynamic. Going to presume that Strome and Nametsnikov stay at wing, but getting the three meaningful minutes at center at the same time is all but impossible.
 
Just put Andersson and Chytil on the wing. Playing more minutes with better linemates will help them develop their offense.

Its not like once they are wingers they can never be centers again.
 
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In order for Lias to play the game style he plays he has to mature physically, he can not play his game against more physically mature players. I'm wont be concerned about him until he is a man.
 
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Honestly think the answer to helping Andersson develop his NHL game is staring us in the face. When Andersson was drafted, he was seen as a 2c-3c tweener. Smart, somewhat well-rounded, good team guy, with a deceptively good shot whose going to rely more on hockey IQ than on raw physical ability. We know exactly what the 25 year old version of that looks like -- Ryan Strome.

If Andersson could model his game off of Strome's for now it will give him the foundation he needs to figure the NHL game out.

People keep blaming Andersson's skating for his lack of visibility or effectiveness on the ice. I actually think it's more about positioning and spacing. Andersson and Strome have very similar foot speeds, but because Strome knows where to go in all situations in the NHL, and goes there without hesitation he rarely puts himself out of the play. I know some of you may get upset by this comparison. But remember, Strome was drafted 5th overall. And while he's not turned into Sydney Crosby, he has turned into a very reliable player whose capable of 40-50 points on this team. If Andersson can become that within the next 2 seasons, it's a win.

Andersson needs to be glued to Strome for now and as he continues to get stronger, he has the chance to become a more stout, physically imposing version of Strome.
 
If he makes small steps each season then before you know he can be a solid, flexible, defensively responsible middle 6 forward who plays in all situations.

He doesn't look great but he looks worlds better than how he did to start the season. He's close to scoring chances, making the right reads, back then he wasn't even in the same galaxy as a scoring chance. He will never wow us with his skill as that's not his game.
 
Inferno said:
Yeah but again....it was the preseason... Nigel Dawes undressed pronger too. I'd say 1 great play is awesome....I just need more. A lot more.
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Yea I remember watching that and getting psyched but once the season started he was pretty invisible. Seems much more engaged because he understands where to go a bit quicker now.
 
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