Lias Andersson was the worst putrid w/horrid +/- and painful to watch for most of this season, but it was all due to not having the NHL level skating worked out. CLEARLY, eye test, despite other lack of settled issues with Rangers' lineup, he showed full improvement last 3 wks of season to evidence this corner was turned.
Rangers will have Kravtsov, Nieves, Chytil, possibly returning Hayes and other options if full purge is done to either dump vets or sell high on prospects while UFA add Pannarin. I could see Andersson kicking it at 4C with Lemieux and Gettinger as a severe, punishing 4th line, but that is not best use of a 7OA. Thus available.
In a prior deal which included Howden + Deangelo for lesser buf pieces, now off the table, I felt arguably on balance fair value was certainly offered. I'm willing to discuss another path for Lias alone.
Andersson was a 7OA, and his only issue is his skating. Yes, this guy is not an elite sniper/scorer, but has performed well at every level, cutting his teeth as a boy among men in Sweden, and was drafted this high [before we got Howden and Chytil] as we needed C and this guy was considered 'safe' and 'minimal bust risk'. Fan Side Daily connects to Blue Line Station which has several pro evaluators saying this guy, on paper, was a good bet, not nec, for grand slam 6oo ft home run, but for productive F.
In a simplified deal, I agree that not even taking into account any other factors, a 7OA this yr is worth more than one recently since you surrender at min a year of elc team control. {That is the price one should be expected to pay FOR HELP NOW.}
So I throw this out
2019 Sabes 1st [7OA]
for
Andersson plus conditional futures based on his production.
If he plays like 7OA [comparable to avg of other 7OA production in 'recent' years], something like a 6th is not upgraded.
If he is productive but not standout, whatever we objectively attempt to peg that at, we upgrade that 6th to something proportionately more.
If he is bust city, we pay something higher still in draft picks to compensate.
Buf only has to make him available to play adequate mins. Can't not play or play 2 mins per game. Has to have real legit chance, which I expect he gets starting at 3C competing for 2C day 1.
Out til later, get back to me....
