Rangers’ complicated Lias Andersson fiasco isn’t over

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Part I of a new series analyzing the Rangers. When it began, I can begin to tell you (apologies to the great Neil Diamond) that it likely all started to go wrong this year for Lias Andersson during the pregame introductions for the Oct. 3 season opener at the Garden when the center tripped over …

Part I of a new series analyzing the Rangers.

When it began, I can begin to tell you (apologies to the great Neil Diamond) that it likely all started to go wrong this year for Lias Andersson during the pregame introductions for the Oct. 3 season opener at the Garden when the center tripped over a television cable on the ice. In the third period of the Rangers’ 6-4 victory over the Jets, Andersson got two shifts worth at 1:29.

That was the season in capsule for Andersson, who was demoted to AHL Hartford on Nov. 17, fled the organization’s jurisdiction by walking out on the Wolf Pack on Dec. 20 to return to Sweden, was summarily suspended, and, after a pause in his career, was permitted by Blueshirts president John Davidson to join his HV-71 club on loan.

So what now for the — repeat after me — seventh-overall pick of the 2017 draft? The Rangers, who did not get a nibble on Andersson at the Feb. 24 deadline, had hoped to be able to include him as part of a trade package during the offseason. Now, it is impossible to say given all attendant uncertainty, though given the Blueshirts’ lack of depth up-front, Andersson could wind up in New York for his fourth pro camp.

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(Interlude I: Even if this is it as a Ranger for Andersson, nine points (3-6) in 66 games, his selection does not come close to being the club’s most unwise first-round pick over the last quarter-century. In order, here are the worst: 1. Hugh Jessiman, 12th overall, 2003; 2. Pavel Brendl, fourth overall, 1997, with the pick acquired from Tampa Bay for Niklas Sundstrom, Dan Cloutier and the New York first-rounder; 3. Dylan McIlrath, 10th overall, 2010; 4. Bobby Sanguinetti, 21st overall, 2006, with Claude Giroux selected next by the Flyers; 5. Al Montoya, sixth overall, 2004; 6. Jeff Brown, 22nd overall, 1996, with Daniel Briere selected two spots later by the Coyotes.

How about that run from 2003 to 2006 when Jessiman, Montoya and Sanguinetti combined to play five total games for the Rangers, Sanguinetti getting them all midway through 2009-10. Maybe then-general manager Glen Sather knew what he was doing when he traded away the team’s next 73 first-rounders.)

But back to our protagonist, Andersson, who was both culprit and victim in his 2019-20 demise as a Ranger. Culprit in so far as he was unable to beat out Brett Howden for ice time in the defining battle for the slot as third center behind Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Strome after Filip Chytil had been sent to the AHL to start the season. Andersson just never showed anywhere near enough creativity or vision. Plus, there are skating issues, the engaging Swede — well, at least until he disengaged — lacking first two-steps explosiveness off the mark. Andersson was never able to earn ice time and David Quinn’s trust.

But Andersson was a victim, too, of the coach’s intransigence. Perhaps Quinn had issues with Andersson’s practice habits. Maybe there was more below the surface. But the fact is, Andersson was locked in and on the fourth line for all 17 of his games. Brendan Smith was a linemate 16 times and Micheal Haley 11. Indeed, the Haley-Andersson-Smith combo was intact for 10 games. Good luck putting up numbers with that unit in 7:29 of even-strength ice time per game.

In the meantime, Howden most often skated with Brendan Lemieux and Kaapo Kakko on the third line while getting some spins with Chris Kreider, Jesper Fast and Pavel Buchnevich. And even though Howden recorded just four points (2-2), Quinn never once flipped him with Howden, not even when doing so might (and might not) have given a boost to the Swede.

(Interlude II: Interestingly, despite Andersson’s lack of progress, management would still make the June 23, 2017 trade with Arizona in which the Blueshirts sent Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to the desert in exchange for the seventh-overall pick … and Tony DeAngelo, who at age 24 was fourth this year among NHL defensemen with 15 goals and 53 points.)

Alrighty then. Barring unforeseen developments, the Rangers project to have Zibanejad, Strome and Chytil 1-2-3 down the middle, with Howden likely posted on the wing. So where is the spot for Andersson, even if there is a full-blown reconciliation between him and the organization?

Andersson did play a handful of games at wing two years ago, and was reasonably competent, in fact, but the Rangers have Artemi Panarin and Kreider on the left side, with Howden, Brendan Lemieux and Phil DiGiuseppe all ahead of the Swede on the depth chart.

Fourth-line center instead of Greg McKegg? Isn’t this where we came in … and where Andersson went out?