New York Rangers: Filip Chytil and Lias Andersson shine early in WJC
Through the first two days of the 2017 World Junior Championships Filip Chytil and Lias Andersson have impressed.
The Rangers have had several prospects shine in the WJC, Chris Kreider and J.T Miller both won gold medals in the competition as part of team USA. The tournament is a showcase of the best players in the world ages 18 and under. This year it has two teams primed to compete for the gold led by Ranger first round picks.
Both Chytil and Andersson have worlds of potential and look like men amongst boys. They are both amongst the biggest names for their respective teams. The Rangers have a lot to look forward to down the line from the two prospects.
Head to head
Chytil’s Czech Republic team and Andersson’s Swedish team played Thursday afternoon. Andersson and Sweden controlled the game throughout and ultimately prevailed 3-1. Sweden is a deeper and more complete team and features Rasmus Dalhen, the likely first overall pick in this year’s draft.
The Swedes are perennial contenders in the tournament, having won 42 straight preliminary round games dating back to 2007. The team outclassed the Czechs, outshooting them 15-5 in the first period. From there, the Czechs were reeling and frantically tried to tie the game.
Although Andersson got the better of his fellow prospect, Chytil still made a noticeable impact. The forward looked like the strongest player on the ice, he controlled the puck behind the net while under pressure to generate offense. Chytil also used his size to get himself into position to play the puck and drew a penalty.
Andersson, the eighth overall pick in the draft, showed a flash of his tremendous two-way ability. The Swede was drafted as a safe replacement for Derek Stepan and made a play that encapsulated that projection. Andersson chased down a play from the offensive zone on a backcheck and broke up a backdoor pass that would’ve been buried into an open net.
General Impressions
Chytil is awe-inspiring for 18-year-old who’s never played in North America before this year. He is always in the right place and creating a high danger scoring chance when the puck is on his stick. Against younger competition in this tournament, he looks like a ringer. He’s physically stronger than anyone else on the ice and the puck is stuck to his stick.
The Czech forward is going to be an absolute stud down the line for the Rangers. He played tremendously well in the pre-season and with better usage could still be on the NHL roster. This is a good showcase for Chytil and what he can do playing with elite talent. The Czech Auston Matthews made several flashy plays in his team’s first game against Russia.
In the first two minutes of the game, Chytil stole the soul of a Russian defenseman with a filthy deke. The forward got hit in the face with an elbow by a defender during a bang-bang play and promptly scored a goal with a nose full of gauze.
Andersson is on a deeper more well-rounded team and it shows the type of player he could be for the Rangers. He has a tremendous awareness in the defensive zone and will eventually be the center the team so desperately needs.
What it means
The Rangers seem to have two winners in Chytil and Andersson. Drafting players is not an exact science, projecting a player’s raw skills over the course of an NHL career is not easy. Sometimes physical ability doesn’t materialize even though every sign says it will. Success on the world stage against other elite players in the same age group is a great thermometer for the future.
The two centers are symbols of hope at a time when the team desperately needs it. The Chris Kreider injury changes the complexion of the team and makes contending this season a lot more difficult. The team’s two first-round picks are safe ports in the middle of a storm.
Things may not work out this season, but down the road Chytil and Andersson will make a difference in the NHL. Next season, both should make the NHL roster out of training camp and hit the league running.