Rangers Recall Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil From Hartford
Andersson, 19, has skated in 24 AHL games with the Wolf Pack this season, registering five goals and nine assists for 14 points, along with a plus-one rating and eight penalty minutes. Among AHL players younger than 20 years old, Andersson ranks third (min. five games played) in points per game this season (0.58). He tallied his first career AHL assist/point, which was an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime, and posted a plus-one rating while making his AHL debut on Jan. 24 at Utica. In addition, Andersson registered three points (one goal, two assists), including his first career AHL goal, on Feb. 7 vs. Bridgeport. Andersson has also registered 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in his last 18 AHL contests.
The 6-0, 204-pounder began the 2017-18 season with the Frolunda Indians of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) prior to joining the Wolf Pack in the AHL. Andersson skated in 22 SHL games with Frolunda this season, registering seven goals and seven assists for 14 points, along with a plus-six rating and 20 penalty minutes. At the time he played his final SHL game of the season, Andersson ranked second among SHL players younger than 20 years old in goals and points in 2017-18.
Andersson skated in 42 SHL games with HV71 last season, registering nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points, along with a plus-21 rating and 18 penalty minutes. He established SHL career-highs in several categories last season, including games played, goals, assists, points, and plus/minus rating. Andersson ranked eighth in the SHL - and led all junior players (younger than 20 years old) in the league - in plus/minus rating in 2016-17. In addition, he ranked second among all junior players in the SHL in goals and assists, and tied for second among all junior players in the league in points last season. Andersson also registered four goals and one assist for five points in 16 playoff games while helping HV71 win the SHL Championship last season.
Internationally, the Smogen, Sweden, native has represented his country in several tournaments. Most recently, Andersson registered six goals and one assist for seven points, along with a plus-five rating in seven games while helping Sweden earn a silver medal at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. Andersson, who served as Sweden's captain in the tournament, was selected as one of his team's Best Three Players. In addition, he ranked fourth among all skaters - and led Sweden - in goals during the tournament. Andersson also helped Sweden earn a silver medal at the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championship, as he registered nine points (five goals, four assists) and a plus-three rating in seven games during the tournament, and he was named one of Sweden's Best Three Players.
Andersson was selected by the Rangers in the first round, seventh overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Chytil, 18, has skated in 45 AHL games with the Wolf Pack this season, registering 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points, along with four penalty minutes. Chytil's 31 points thus far this season are tied for the 12th-most a player younger than 19 years old has tallied in one season in AHL history. In addition, Chytil leads all AHL players younger than 20 years old in goals and points per game (0.69), and ranks second among all AHL players younger than 20 years old in assists and points in 2017-18. Prior to this season, the last AHL player younger than 19 years old who registered at least 30 points and averaged at least 0.69 points per game in a season was William Nylander in 2014-15. Chytil tallied nine points (three goals, six assists) and posted a plus-five rating in his first six career AHL games. In addition, he registered three points (one goal, two assists), including his first career AHL goal, assist, and point, recorded the game-winning goal, and posted a plus-three rating while skating in his second career AHL game on Oct. 14 at Springfield.
The 6-2, 202-pounder skated in two games with the Rangers at the start of the 2017-18 season. Chytil made his NHL debut in the Blueshirts' 2017-18 regular season opener on Oct. 5 vs. Colorado. At 18 years and 30 days old, Chytil became the fourth-youngest player to appear in a game with the Rangers in franchise history. In addition, he became the first 18-year-old to appear in a game with the Rangers since Dan Blackburn on Apr. 13, 2002 at Philadelphia, as well as the first 18-year-old skater (forward or defenseman) to play in a game with the Rangers since Manny Malhotra on Apr. 18, 1999 vs. Pittsburgh (the contest was Wayne Gretzky's final NHL game). Prior to the start of the regular season, Chytil was named the winner of the 2017 Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award, which is given annually to the top Rangers rookie in Training Camp as selected by the media. Chytil became the first Ranger to win the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award in the same year he was selected in the NHL Entry Draft since Dan Blackburn in 2001. In addition, he is one of four players who have won the award in the same year they were drafted by the Rangers, along with Blackburn, Filip Novak (2000), and Malhotra (1998).
Internationally, the Kromeriz, Czech Republic, native has represented his country in several tournaments. Most recently, Chytil registered four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games while representing the Czech Republic at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also registered five points (two goals, three assists) in five games while representing the Czech Republic at the 2017 IIHF World U18 Championship. In addition, Chytil helped the Czech Republic earn a gold medal at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, as he registered four points (three goals, one assist) in five games.
Chytil was selected by the Rangers in the first round, 21st overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
