The Rangers need centers, and they just happened to draft one with the No. 7 overall pick in the NHL draft last week. Whether that need will be immediately filled by the new addition, Lias Andersson, is still to be seen. But Andersson already has begun making a good impression, and he said his sights are set on one thing.
“I want to compete for a spot,” Andersson said after Thursday’s scrimmage at prospect camp in Tarrytown. “They’re looking for centermen. I think I’m pretty smart out there, I’ve played with men for two years now, and I think my game will fit in pretty good with older players. We’ll see. I’m going to battle for a spot and it’s up to the coaches.”
When the Rangers traded Derek Stepan and backup goalie Antti Raanta to obtain the No. 7 pick and young defenseman Anthony DeAngelo from the Coyotes hours before Round 1 of the draft, general manager Jeff Gorton said a big part of it was targeting a few players in that top 10.
“We had some players we liked,” Gorton said, “and we wanted to get in there.”
That included Andersson, a 6-foot, 200-pound 18-year-old who has played two seasons for HC71 in his native Swedish hockey league. He said Thursday he has not been on the ice “in months,” but Andersson was the best player in his second scrimmage in as many days, setting up plays while having a bevy of scoring chances for himself.
“I think pretty good,” he said of his play. “I think it was a good game. I haven’t been on the ice now for a couple months, so I’m just trying to get ready for the big camp in September, go on the ice as much as I can and work out as much as I can before the big camp starts.”
The first objective of trading Stepan was to clear his $6.5 million off the books for the next four seasons, thus giving Gorton ample salary-cap space for the opening of free agency Saturday. Even after signing defenseman Brendan Smith, the Rangers’ biggest need still seems to be the right side of the defense, but adding talent up front also is a big objective.
That would be especially true down the middle, with the only returning regular centers Kevin Hayes and Mika Zibanejad — a restricted free agent whose negotiations might go on deeper into the summer. Fourth-line pivot Oscar Lindberg was taken by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft, and there is hardly anyone at AHL Hartford knocking the door down for a spot.
With that the case, Gorton surely will look at the free-agent market for centers. Andersson likely is best suited to start the year in the minors, an easier acclimation process for the smaller rink and the North American pro game. A lot of European players learn quickly there about the physicality of the NHL and the necessity to play a two-way game. But Andersson seems to have a slight edge, and he has been vocal about taking pride in his defense, as well.
“He’s a hell of a player,” Gordie Clark, the Rangers director of player personnel, said on draft night. “We’ve really needed a certain kind of player to add into our organization. This guy — his work ethic, his ability — you’re going to love him. The fans will love him. He’s got the combination of the grit and ability we’ve been looking for.”
Come September, the Rangers’ roster will look a little bit different, as will Andersson’s competition for a spot. But that’s not going to stop him from trying to make the team, sooner rather than later.
“Of course, it’s exciting,” Andersson said. “Just to go there and battle for a spot on one of the world’s best teams is exciting.”