According to multiple sources, Rangers’ General Manager Jeff Gorton was in Utica last night to watch the Hartford Wolf Pack play. While this could theoretically be a trip with trading deadline implications, it is more likely that Gorton is using the approaching NHL All-Star break to take an extended look at the Rangers’ prospects for general evaluation purposes.
In particular, Gorton got a first-hand look at 2017 first-round pick Lias Andersson, who was transferred from Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey league and made his AHL debut last night. Hartford Head Coach Keith McCambridge did not hesitate to use Andersson immediately, giving him top-nine minutes as well as power play and penalty kill time.