The mistake the Rangers made with Lias Andersson was not so much the way they deployed the Swedish center but in drafting him seventh overall in 2017.
That, less than three years into Andersson’s pro career, would be the Original Sin.
The young man renowned for his leadership ability more than any singular on-ice skill did not only request a trade out of the organization, a reasonable ask, but also simply picked up and left the AHL Wolf Pack following that appeal.
That’s quite a display of leadership, even for a frustrated 21-year-old, who is now under suspension by the Rangers.