Former top-ten pick reportedly may be leaving North America this summer

PUBLICATION

Cooper Godin
March 18, 2024 (3:22 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

A former top-ten pick is reportedly may be leaving North American this summer.

After spending seven seasons in North America, primarily in the American Hockey League, along with stints back home in Sweden, it appears that a former top-ten pick may be returning to Europe in the summer.

According to Johan Svensson of Sport Expressen, 2017 seventh overall pick Lias Andersson is drawing interest from clubs in the Swedish Hockey League, as well as HC Davos in Switzerland's National League.

"According to @MrMadhawk and @SportExpressen, Davos is one of the teams looking to add Laval Rocket's Lias Andersson for next season. There is a lot of SHL interest, but Davos would probably pay the most, and who wouldn't want to play in this arena?"

Andersson, 25, has had a rough go here in North America and was never able to become a full-time NHLer with either of his previous teams - the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings.

Two years into his tenure with the Rangers, Andersson requested a trade and one month following the decision, was loaned back to the Swedish Hockey League to finish out the 2019-20 season. Eventually, ten months after the trade request, Andersson would be dealt to the Los Angeles Kings.

Last summer, the Smogen, Sweden native signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens, but hasn't appeared in any NHL games for the big club this season. In 41 games for the AHL's Laval Rocket, Andersson has 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists), 29 penalty minutes and is a plus-three.

It's going to be interesting to see what Lias Andersson decides to do this summer, but with teams like HC Davos and SHL clubs interested, it's hard not to see him playing in Europe next season.