Lias Andersson talks about his issues this season

The Lias Andersson saga took another turn as the former New York Rangers first round draft pick opened up about his experiences in an interview.

Lias Andersson spoke to reporter Johan Rylander of the Gothenburg Post and revealed more about his experiences with the New York Rangers and the issues that resulted in his abandoning his career in North America.

While there had been suggestions of bullying and other problems with the organization, the interview reveals that it was more of a case of loneliness and a struggle to live up to expectations.   Andersson indicated that he was injured and dealing with the injury and his challenges on the ice resulted in him not enjoying hockey any more.  That’s what led to his sudden departure from Hartford.

The interview is behind a paywall on the Gothenburg Post website.   Vince Mercogliano obtained a translation of the interview from Rylander and you can read it by clicking here.

The Gothenburg Post  published a short video on their Facebook page promoting the article.

The rough translation is:

His saga was as one of the world’s best hockey talents  but Lias Andersson got stuck in a squirrel hole with sleeping pills and bad habits.

“I have doubted myself and if I could play hockey” – Andersson

Today, Lias smiles again and has found the joy of hockey together with his father Niklas and his  brother Noah

While Andersson has been vilified as a spoiled brat or a quitter by many fans, the interview does reveal some of the issues that face young athletes, especially those thrust into situations out of their control when they are far from home.

The future

One important fact to come out of the interview was Andersson’s revelation that the organization didn’t know about his emotional issues.   He was also very complimentary about Team President John Davidson who re-opened the lines of communication with him after he returned to Sweden.

Andersson had a revival in his stint with HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League.  He played in 15 games, scoring seven goals and 12 points.  Here’s Andersson (#23) scoring in the second to last game played by HV71 before the rest of the season was canceled.

Will Lias Andersson resume his career in North America?  When asked, Andersson said “I’m open to anything.”

Andersson turns 22 in October and is going into the final year of his Entry Level Contract.  He is technically on loan to HV71 so the Rangers retain his rights.  He will be eligible to be exposed in the Seattle NHL Expansion Draft next summer.

With a better understanding of the issues Andersson was facing and with his excellent play in the SHL, the Rangers could certainly invite him back to training camp before next season, an offer that Andersson would be compelled to accept.   They could also let him continue to play in Sweden where he could revive his trade value if he continues his strong play.

The good news is it’s too early to give up on the seventh overall pick in the 2017 Entry Draft.  At best, he could see a return to New York and develop into a productive member of the team. At worst, he could bring a decent return in a trade whether it be players, prospects or a draft pick.