Lias Andersson promotion creates more Rangers confusion
When Lias Andersson was recalled from AHL Hartford on Thursday, it was assumed he was adding depth for a potential trade or to allow the Rangers to scratch one of their movable pieces.
By the end of the night, it was just one more head-scratching decision.
Andersson did not end up replacing Kevin Hayes or Mats Zuccarello in the lineup. Instead, he was called up six hours before puck drop just to play 10:41 in the Rangers’ 4-1 loss to the Wild as the fourth-line center and made Boo Nieves a healthy scratch.
“Lias has played well down in Hartford,” coach David Quinn said. “Competition never hurts.”
The 20-year-old Andersson had recorded six goals and 14 assists in 36 games with the Wolf Pack this season, but only two goals and six assists have come in the 22 games he played since he was last with the Rangers in December.
In 22 NHL games this season, the 2017 No. 7-overall pick has posted one goal and three assists.
Brett Howden was placed on injured reserve Thursday to make room for the recall of Andersson, but the roster move was not indicative of the young center’s progress. The 20-year old was on the ice in a red non-contact jersey for the team’s morning skate, the third day he has skated since spraining his knee on Jan. 13.
“It means we’re getting close,” Quinn said. “He feels good, he’s looked good, he’s made a lot of progress.”
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While Tony DeAngelo extended his point streak to five games Thursday with a primary assist on Pavel Buchnevich’s power-play goal, it was the defenseman’s effort in the non-scoring areas that has impressed Quinn the most.
“To me, Tony’s really made a step,” Quinn said. “He’s done a great job playing within himself, controlling his emotions, not wasting energy that’s going to affect his performance. … You want to be judged by more than points if you’re going to be successful and stay in this league.”
Quinn mixed up his red-hot first line during the game, swapping left wing Chris Kreider with Jimmy Vesey.
“I was looking for something different, the way things were going for most of our lines and our game in general,” the coach said.
Neal Pionk returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s win over the Hurricanes because of an eye injury from catching Sidney Crosby’s high stick on Sunday.
Brendan Smith and Fredrik Claesson were the defensive scratches.