With trade rumors flying all over the place, the New York Rangers have called up Lias Andersson prior to their game Thursday.
The New York Rangers have recalled Lias Andersson from the Hartford Wolf Pack prior to Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Wild.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have recalled Lias Andersson from @WolfPackAHL. pic.twitter.com/Qb7Fy4gAQm
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 21, 2019
This will be Andersson’s second stint with the Rangers this season after a 21-game stretch earlier in the season. During that period, the former seventh overall pick scored one goal while adding three assists.
With the trade deadline four days away, the recall of Andersson comes at an important time. All of the speculations of potential deals out there have led to questions of whether or not the Rangers will sit Kevin Hayes, Mats Zuccarello, and Adam McQuaid. After the team’s morning skate, head coach David Quinn told reporters he was not planning on sitting the three veterans unless he was told otherwise.
Quinn: Zuccarello, Hayes, McQuaid, et al will play tonight “until I’m told differently.”
— Rick Carpiniello (@RickCarpiniello) February 21, 2019
While the speculation is legitimate there was just one problem, New York did not have an extra forward to insert into the lineup until now.
In his time with the Wolf Pack this season, Andersson has scored 20 points, six goals, and 14 assists in 36 games. A majority of that damage came prior to his call up earlier in the season, but with the situation the Rangers find themselves in now, he is the best option to give this chance.
Andersson was never really given a chance in his first stint in the NHL this season after being relegated to fourth-line minutes. Look for that to change this time around since it’s looking like members of the team’s top-six might be out of the lineup.
New York has yet to make any trade announcement or lineup changes, so this is just pure speculation. But as the day moves on, be on the lookout for any potential moves.
Let the fun begin.
