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New York Rangers: Ranking the top five rookies who could make the team

By William Borowski

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 26: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers skates against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on March 26, 2018 in New York City. The Capitals defeated the Rangers 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 26: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers skates against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on March 26, 2018 in New York City. The Capitals defeated the Rangers 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 26: Lias Andersson
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 26: Lias Andersson /

#2: Lias Andersson

Age: 19, 5-foot-11, 205lbs, left-handed center, 13G 17A in 54GP with Frolunda HC (SHL, 22GP) Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL, 25GP) and the New York Rangers (NHL, 7GP)

Lias Andersson is number two on this list because he’s already had NHL experience. The Rangers didn’t think they saw enough of his game to give him a spot on the roster last season. Instead, he was brought up with seven games left in the season to give him a taste of what the NHL is going to be like during his career. He scored one goal and one assist during that span.

The 2017 first rounder used part of this year in Hartford to situate himself on American ice and he had no problem doing it. He notched 14 points (5G, 9A) in 25 games for the Wolf Pack before being called up at the end of the NHL season.

Andersson is a hardworking team player that leads by example and plays a complete two-way game. He has great hockey sense and never takes a shift off. The Rangers are an organization that love work ethic and class, Lias Andersson oozes it. He will definitely be part of the Rangers future, it’s just a matter of how he’ll be used and when it’ll be.

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