Lias Andersson

Lias Andersson
Andersson with the Los Angeles Kings in 2022
Born	(1998-10-13) 13 October 1998 (age 25) Smögen, Sweden
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams	Montreal Canadiens Laval Rocket  (AHL) HV71 Frölunda HC New York Rangers Los Angeles Kings
National team	Sweden
NHL draft	7th overall, 2017 New York Rangers
Playing career	2015–present

Lias Andersson (born 13 October 1998) is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, seventh overall, by the New York Rangers in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Andersson has also previously played for the Los Angeles Kings.

Playing career

Andersson made his Swedish Hockey League (SHL) debut with HV71 during the 2015–16 season. ^[1] In the following 2016–17 season, able to accept a larger role, Andersson appeared in 42 games in the regular season, contributing with 9 goals and 19 points. He appeared in every postseason game in compiling 4 goals and 5 point in 16 games to help HV71 capture their fifth Le Mat Trophy.

On 8 May 2017, Andersson opted to leave HV71 and agreed to a two-year contract to link up with Frölunda HC. It marked a return in continuing his heritage, as he spent his childhood with the club, as his father gained an icon status during his tenure with Frölunda. ^[2] He was selected by the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL), seventh overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Following his selection by the Rangers, Andersson signed to a three-year, entry-level contract in July 2017. ^[3]

In the 2017–18 season, Andersson made his debut with Frölunda HC and appeared in 22 games, registering 7 goals and 14 points, before leaving the club to attend his second World Junior Championships. Following the conclusion of the tournament, Andersson left the SHL and was re-assigned by the Rangers to make his North American debut in joining their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack on 19 January 2018. ^[4] On 25 March, Andersson was called up by the Rangers and made his NHL debut against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden the next day. ^[5] He scored his first career NHL goal in his debut, making him the youngest Rangers player to score a goal in their debut, surpassing Mike Allison. ^[6] Andersson was subsequently sent back to the AHL thereafter. ^[7]

Andersson began the 2018–19 season in the AHL after being cut from the Rangers 2018 training camp. ^[8] After recording 12 points in 14 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack, Andersson was recalled to the NHL on 5 November 2018. ^[9] On 21 December 2019, it was reported by Darren Dreger that Andersson had formally asked the New York Rangers for a trade. ^[10] However, on 26 January 2020, the Rangers opted to loan Andersson to HV71 of the SHL. ^[11] Andersson's tenure with the Rangers officially ended in October 2020 as he was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Vegas' second-round pick in 2020. ^{[12] [13]}

Andersson finished the season with HV71, playing 15 games and began the 2020–21 season with HV71, playing 19 games before coming to Los Angeles for NHL training camp. ^[14] He split the NHL season between Los Angeles and their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. Andersson scored his first goal for the Kings on 24 January 2021, against Ville Husso in a 6–3 win over the St. Louis Blues. ^[15] On 30 July, Andersson re-signed with Los Angeles to a one-year, two-way contract. ^[16] In the 2021–22 season, Andersson appeared in 20 games for the Kings, scoring one goal and two points. He signed a one-year extension with Los Angeles on 11 July 2022. ^[17] The 2022–23 season saw Andersson spend the majority of the year with the Reign, appearing only once for Los Angeles. ^[18]

On 2 July 2023, Andersson as a free agent signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens. ^[19] Andersson attended the Canadiens 2023 training camp but was placed on waivers with the intent on assigning him to Montreal's AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. After going unclaimed, Andersson was assigned to Laval to start the 2023–24 season. ^[18]

International play

Medal record
Representing   Sweden
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
	2018 Denmark
World Junior Championship
	2018 United States

Andersson was named to Team Sweden for the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championships and helped Sweden win silver by putting up nine points in seven games. ^[20] He was again named to Team Sweden for the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he scored three goals. He was named captain to Team Sweden for the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, ^[21] where he helped guide the team to a silver medal, and in a controversial display, threw it into the crowd in frustration. ^[22] For this action, he was suspended from four games during the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. ^[23]

In April 2018, he was named to Sweden's 2018 IIHF World Championship team, ^[24] and Sweden won gold.

Personal life

Andersson's father Niklas played in 165 NHL games, while his uncle Mikael played in 761 NHL games.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2012–13	Kungälvs IK	J18		23	4	1	5	2		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Kungälvs IK	J18		32	18	19	37	76		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Kungälvs IK	J20 II		1	0	0	0	0		2	0	0	0	0
2014–15	HV71	J18		11	6	9	15	20		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	HV71	J18 Allsv		2	0	4	4	0		4	2	2	4	2
2014–15	HV71	J20		25	6	3	9	16		6	0	2	2	0
2015–16	HV71	J18		1	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	HV71	J18 Allsv		1	0	4	4	0		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	HV71	J20		37	24	35	59	91		1	2	0	2	2
2015–16	HV71	SHL		22	0	0	0	6		4	0	0	0	0
2016–17	HV71	J20		3	2	0	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	HV71	SHL		42	9	10	19	18		16	4	1	5	18
2017–18	Frölunda HC	SHL		22	7	7	14	20		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		25	5	9	14	8		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	New York Rangers	NHL		7	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		36	6	14	20	25		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	New York Rangers	NHL		42	2	4	6	29		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	New York Rangers	NHL		17	0	1	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		13	4	1	5	14		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	HV71	SHL		15	7	5	12	6		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	HV71	SHL		19	5	6	11	4		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		23	3	3	6	12		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Ontario Reign	AHL		15	6	11	17	0		1	1	0	1	0
2021–22	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		20	1	1	2	12		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Ontario Reign	AHL		4	6	0	6	2		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Ontario Reign	AHL		67	31	28	59	38		2	2	1	3	2
2022–23	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Laval Rocket	AHL		53	21	24	45	33		—	—	—	—	—
SHL totals				120	28	28	56	54		20	4	1	5	18
NHL totals				110	7	10	17	57		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014	Sweden	U17			6	1	3	4	2
2015	Sweden	IH18			5	0	0	0	18
2016	Sweden	WJC18			7	5	4	9	8
2017	Sweden	WJC	4th		7	3	0	3	6
2018	Sweden	WJC			7	6	1	7	6
2018	Sweden	WC			10	1	1	2	4
Junior totals					32	15	8	23	40
Senior totals					10	1	1	2	4

Awards and honors

Award	Year	Ref
SHL
Le Mat Trophy champion	2017	[25]

References

1. "Statistik - SHL.se". shl.se. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
2. "24:an går i arv" [The 24 is inherited] (in Swedish). Frölunda HC. 8 May 2017. Archived from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
3. "Rangers agree to terms with forward Lias Andersson". New York Rangers. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
4. Hartford Wolf Pack [@WolfPackAHL] (19 January 2018). "[NEWS] The @NYRangers have assigned Lias Andersson to the Hartford Wolf Pack" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 January 2018– via Twitter.
5. "Rangers recall 2017 first-rounders Lias Andersson, Filip Chytil". Sportsnet. 25 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
6. "Andersson scores in first game with Rangers in front of proud family". NHL.com. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
7. "Rangers' Lias Andersson: Moves back to minor league". CBS Sports. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
8. "Rangers Reduce Training Camp Roster". New York Rangers. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018– via NHL.com.
9. "Rangers Recall Lias Andersson From Hartford". New York Rangers. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018– via NHL.com.
10. "Andersson asks Rangers for trade". TSN . 21 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
11. "Rangers Loan Lias Andersson to HV71 of Swedish Hockey League". New York Rangers. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020– via NHL.com.
12. Rosen, Dan (7 October 2020). "Andersson traded to Kings by Rangers for second-round pick". NHL.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
13. "Rangers trade Andersson to Kings". TSN . 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
14. Dillman, Lisa (3 January 2021). "Lias Andersson, looking for a fresh start, is set up to succeed with the Kings". The Athletic. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
15. Knoll, Andrew (24 January 2021). "Kings overpower Blues with early barrage of goals". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
16. "Kings sign forward Lias Andersson to one-year, two-way deal". Sportsnet. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
17. "Los Angeles Kings bring back Carl Grundstrom, Lias Andersson, let Brendan Lemieux try free agency". ESPN. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
18. Zurkowsky, Herb (18 October 2023). "Lias Andersson hoping to salvage career in Canadiens' organization". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
19. "Canadiens sign Lias Andersson to a one-year contract". Montreal Canadiens. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023– via NHL.com.
20. "Lias Andersson, Hear Him Roar". NHL.com. Colorado Avalanche. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
21. @NYRStatsInfo (23 December 2017). "NYR prospect Lias Andersson will serve as Sweden's captain at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
22. Traikos, Michael (5 January 2018). "Frustrated Sweden captain Lias Andersson tosses silver medal into crowd". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
23. Bottomley, Andrew (2 May 2018). "Dahlin among Swedish players, coaches suspended by IIHF". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
24. @NYRStatsInfo (29 April 2018). "Lias Andersson and Mika Zibanejad have been named to Sweden's roster for the 2018 IIHF World Championship. #NYR" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
25. "HV71 wins championship" (in Swedish). aftonbladet.se. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Brady Skjei	New York Rangers first round draft pick 2017	Succeeded by Filip Chytil