Prospect Info: Lias Andersson

[BlueshirtBlitz]

Stepan was definitely tenacious (2 goals with a broken jaw!), not so quick.

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Literally loling that the two convos on this page are "should we compare him to Backstrom or Sjostrom. I personally think all "useful" analysis is probably off until the midpoint of this upcoming season. Hopefully he's closer to Backstrom

 

[RangerBoy]

Stepan was definitely tenacious (2 goals with a broken jaw!), not so quick.

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Literally loling that the two convos on this page are "should we compare him to Backstrom or Sjostrom. I personally think all "useful" analysis is probably off until the midpoint of this upcoming season. Hopefully he's closer to Backstrom

Stepan was gutsy playing with the broken jaw. Tenacious. Being hard on the puck. Very competitive.

 

[Ola]

What a surprise: the range for the development of a recently drafted prospect is between Backstrom and Sjostrom. : )

He reminds me of a mix of Nathan Gerbe and Peter Worrel with a Patrick Swayzee side too.

In what way is Lias Andersson compareable to Fredrik Sjostrom?

 

[Ola]

He had 11 points in 24 games 5v5 in USHL, that's very bad...

To be fair, 24 games is a rather small sample so i'm not completely thrashing him for it like i am with Rasmussen.

I am a little surprised by that number that sticks out a bit. Did they roll four lines very consistently or something? I could be wrong, I haven't seen a ton of him, but to be honest I am very intrigued by his offensive potential.

 

[Ola]

Stepan didn't lack much, but there was also a lot of things he didn't have if you get what I mean. Was he soft? No. But was he gritty? Nope. And so forth.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

I am a little surprised by that number that sticks out a bit. Did they roll four lines very consistently or something? I could be wrong, I haven't seen a ton of him, but to be honest I am very intrigued by his offensive potential.

I have no idea, i don't watch USHL at all.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Thats LA's TOI over the season. So you'd be correct, he was leaned on more heavily 5v5 towards the end of the season.

I can't speak to how Forsberg was used but Backstrom got more ice time than LA (he was Brynas' #1 center and got tons of PP time.) LA received next to nothing in terms of PP time.

This isn't to suggest that Andersson is going to become Backstrom, which would be just as silly as trying to compare him to Sjostrom.

Thanks for posting this.

 

[boxhamster]

Lias Andersson had an assist, 4 shots on goal, 2 PIM and was a plus one in a 4-3 Sweden win over Team USA in the World Junior evaluation camp.

Andersson had the secondary assist on the tying goal with less than five minutes left in the third period.

He was also assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty with 1 second left in the third period.

For Team USA, both Sean Day and Tim Gettinger were a minus two.

Day turned the puck over late in the third to give Sweden the lead.

Day started a rush to put Team USA up 2-0. He also went to the locker room but quickly came back.

Gettinger had a chance to put Team USA ahead late in the third period but had his shot blocked.

Gettinger skated on the fourth line for Team USA today.

Andersson centered the second line & second PP unit for Sweden and also had a big hit.

Day was on the third pair for Team USA.

 

[Larrybiv]

Interesting quote in here about Lias Andersson and the draft...

"While it’s very difficult to gauge the winner of the Derek Stepan trade before any games have even been played, let me put it this way: I know for a fact that another NHL team was going to draft Andersson very soon after the seventh selection if he was still on the board. So, New York had to strike early if that was their guy."

Ryan knows his stuff so i'd say the twitter rumors about Wings and/or Kings being very high on Lias look pretty credible at this point in time.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/a...o-defensemen-on-the-rise-2018-nhl-draft-watch

My gut tells me that the Rangers are very happy to have gotten him. Other teams wanting him (if he were there) is a good sign (pun intended). They have their list going in.......1 through 6 got picked, so who knows who we would've taken had any one of those players not been taken. Lias was probably best available.

 

[Mikos87]

He had 11 points in 24 games 5v5 in USHL, that's very bad...

To be fair, 24 games is a rather small sample so i'm not completely thrashing him for it like i am with Rasmussen.

I am a little surprised by that number that sticks out a bit. Did they roll four lines very consistently or something? I could be wrong, I haven't seen a ton of him, but to be honest I am very intrigued by his offensive potential.

I know he has his fans, but my guys in the industry felt that his advisors were trying to hide him in HS hockey rather than let him get exposed at a higher level of competition. Word they used was "Coddled".

The gifts are there, but I think maturity and fitness are concerns. Best thing for him is to get a 3-4 year run at college. He hasn't been conditioned like some of the kids coming out of premier hockey programs.

Very gifted player, but he's either a boom or bust. There won't be any middle ground with him.

Also, not dominating 5v5 at the USHL for a top pick... that's a red flag. You don't win with these guys playing in your top 6. Especially if they can't fill a depth role.

 

[Lays]

I'm getting happier and happier each day with this pick, Lias is playing great right now and I wouldn't trade him for anyone picked after 5 in this draft. I really wanted Pettersson at 7 but I'm beyond happy with LA right now. I take him over Glass too, Glass has went from underrated to overrated very quickly, too vanilla

 

[Lays]

2 goals in 2 periods today

 

[Alluckks]

Andersson looked great today. Played center at both even strength and on the PP. Centered Peterson at times.

 

[Irishguy42]

Captain for SWE for this WJSS.

Wonder if that will carry over to WJC should he make it.

I also hope he'll push for the Olympics, even though that is probably a long shot

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Captain for SWE for this WJSS.

Wonder if that will carry over to WJC should he make it.

I also hope he'll push for the Olympics, even though that is probably a long shot

I think Sweden's captain will depend which of Nylander and Andersson is in the NHL. If one is, that probably makes the decision easy for Sweden. If both are not, I think its probably Nylander. Both are in the NHL, I think its Pettersson.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I think Sweden needs Nylander in order to compete this winter even if Pettersson is his usual awesome self instead of what ever the hell has shown up so far to the WJSS.

I don't know that he gets the C even if he does play. I know seniority matters, but hockey Sweden loves them some Lias Andersson.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Andersson looked great today. Played center at both even strength and on the PP. Centered Peterson at times.

Even beyond the goals, Andersson was clearly one 2 or 3 best players on the ice. He's very smart, pretty shifty with the puck and plays a very mature game. He has a fantastic release on his shot too. Lias is a more talented and dynamic offensive player than scouts gave him credit for at the draft.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I think Sweden needs Nylander in order to compete this winter even if Pettersson is his usual awesome self instead of what ever the hell has shown up so far to the WJSS.

I don't know that he gets the C even if he does play. I know seniority matters, but hockey Sweden loves them some Lias Andersson.

Disappointing showing by EP, but we have to see how he does with Vaxjo this season. I am still not convinced he is the best European in this draft

 

[Lays]

Even beyond the goals, Andersson was clearly one 2 or 3 best players on the ice. He's very smart, pretty shifty with the puck and plays a very mature game. He has a fantastic release on his shot too. Lias is a more talented and dynamic offensive player than scouts gave him credit for at the draft.

Everyone thinks that just because he's a two way forward, he isn't great at offense. He put up the same PPG as W. Nylander in his pre draft year and in his draft year he had better numbers than Nylander in the SHL and had comparable numbers to Backstrom. Just because he's not flashy doesn't mean he's bad at offense. Lias has legit upside. Around .5 ppg in the SHL in his draft year. Hate whenever people say he's only going to be a 3C

 

[cwede]

On Draft weekend a couple independent writeups compared with Zetteburg or Backstrom. So I stopped having any concerns

 

[McSauer]

What are the odds he turns out better than Nico? I'm so sick of Devils fans and their thinking that he is the next 'one'...

Man, I really hope them and their ****-poor attendance are the ones to move to Quebec City in a couple years [praying hands emoji]

 

[offdacrossbar]

Even beyond the goals, Andersson was clearly one 2 or 3 best players on the ice. He's very smart, pretty shifty with the puck and plays a very mature game. He has a fantastic release on his shot too. Lias is a more talented and dynamic offensive player than scouts gave him credit for at the draft.

this isnt surprising.

pre draft, he was very highly regarded as a player who had all the tools plus the intuitive and mature feel for the game- which btw, is what sets great players apart from just really talented players. i.e. chris kreider.

when you look at his overall package, lias bring all the measurables plus the skill and smarts and when you add to that his terrific leadership and attitude plus his will to win, you have the player that many of us had as our #1 or #2 target at 7 on draft day.

 

[NYR Viper]

What are the odds he turns out better than Nico? I'm so sick of Devils fans and their thinking that he is the next 'one'...

Man, I really hope them and their ****-poor attendance are the ones to move to Quebec City in a couple years [praying hands emoji]

Totally different players.

Andersson really reminds me of ROR or Bergeron. He has that inner fire and a very high hockey IQ. Nico is more talented, for sure.

It's like who would you rather have, Mackinnon or ROR?

 

[Edge]

Even beyond the goals, Andersson was clearly one 2 or 3 best players on the ice. He's very smart, pretty shifty with the puck and plays a very mature game. He has a fantastic release on his shot too. Lias is a more talented and dynamic offensive player than scouts gave him credit for at the draft.

While he doesn't necessarily project to have the highest offensive ceiling, he doesn't project as not being able to score either.

With that said, I don't think anyone projected ROR or Bergeron at the ages of 18 to have the offensive output they've had at the NHL level either. Not saying that we should put that kind of pressure on Andersson, but sometimes those smarter, well-rounded players produce better than some people expect because their game is well-suited to the pro style and they have a keen understanding of what they need to do to succeed.

I said it on draft day and I'll say it again. Andersson is exactly the type of player you win with. He will likely never be the most talented or dangerous player on his team, but he has a chance to be a core player.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

I've tried to avoid taking to many potshots but my thesis hasn't changed.

What skills does Anderson have that will allow him to put up points at the next level? Hands, no. Shot, no. Vision, maybe. Motor, yes. Intelligence, yes. Scoring points due to motor and smarts is great, it's better than scoring due to banging in rebounds or feeding off a ridiculous talent on the same line. But there are always less openings as you move up. Less room for effort to take you.

Whoever said Drury IMO has made the best comparison in terms of skillset. ROR has filthy hands and the ability to change the attacking direction so fluidly with his stick. Haven't seen that with Anderson yet. If they get a 45-55 pt cost controlled player to replace Stepan, that's sort of a win. IF it happens of course barring injury, bust, etc. It buys time. Not gonna move the needle farther for the NYR than it has been set at though, which is why this remains disappointing to me. Passed on skill, passed on the opportunity to move the needle.