Lias Andersson open to returning to the Rangers but it’s time both parties moved on

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Lias Andersson has garnered more press for what he’s done off the ice than for what’s he’s done on it. That is usually never a good thing. Since being drafted by the New York Rangers in 2017, he’s struggled to make the big club.

He has also polarized the fan base with one faction claiming he’s a bust, and others stating it’s the organizations fault for not giving him better line mates. At this point, let me appease everyone and say you’re all correct.

You can blame former coach, Alain Vigneault and current head man, David Quinn all you want. But if you are honest with yourself, watch some game film and you will see his play away from the puck was not good and his skating was wanting for such a highly drafted prospect.

Lias Andersson open to coming back to the Rangers

After a 4-1 win over Frolunda, Andersson spoke with Johan Rylander of GP in Sweden. “You should never say never,” he said when asked about returning to the Rangers at some point.

Andersson then revealed why he refused the Rangers invite to return for phase 3 camp. “I felt before the playoffs that I was not really ready to go over,” he answered. “I didn’t feel I had it mentally, or the energy to enter a Stanley Cup playoffs.”

Lias Andersson Rangers
Andersson willing to come back (Getty Images)

That’s quite an admission, and I commend him for his honesty. In contrast, Vitali Kravtsov left Russia and missed his sister’s wedding just to compete in training camp and not even get a sniff at an actual game.

It’s time for both parties to move on

Let’s face it, at least from a Rangers perspective, Lias Andersson is a bust. That was before he inexplicably left the team and demanded a trade. He simply doesn’t want to play for the Rangers that badly. Not with the way he’s talking. And if you want my opinion, I think the Rangers are done with him too.

He really doesn’t have a future here with in NY. Heck, in my estimation Lias is not even number 5 on the centers depth chart in the organization. For my money, Karl Henriksson who scored yesterday for Frolunda is ahead of him.

It’s just time for both parties to move on. Jeff Gorton has 10 picks in this draft and I expect him to wheel and deal at the draft and beyond. If I was a betting man, Andersson will be a throw-in this summer to facilitate a move.

By Anthony Scultore

Anthony Scultore has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL since 2014. His work also appears at... More about Anthony Scultore

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