Lias Andersson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lias Andersson
Andersson with the Los Angeles Kings in 2022
Born	(1998-10-13) 13 October 1998 (age 26) Smögen, Sweden
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
NL team Former teams	EHC Biel-Bienne HV71 Frölunda HC New York Rangers Los Angeles Kings
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	7th overall, 2017 New York Rangers
Playing career	2015–present

Lias Andersson (born October 13, 1998) is a talented Swedish ice hockey player. He plays as a forward for EHC Biel-Bienne in the National League (NL) in Switzerland. Lias was a top pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, chosen seventh overall by the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He also played for the Los Angeles Kings during his career in North America.

Lias Andersson's Hockey Journey

Starting in Sweden

Lias Andersson began his professional hockey journey in Sweden. He made his debut in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with HV71 during the 2015–16 season. The next season, 2016–17, he took on a bigger role. He played in 42 regular season games, scoring 9 goals and getting 19 points. He also played in every playoff game, helping HV71 win their fifth Le Mat Trophy, which is the championship trophy in the SHL.

In May 2017, Andersson decided to leave HV71. He signed a two-year contract with Frölunda HC. This was a special move for him because he grew up playing with Frölunda. His father was a very famous player for the club, so it was like returning to his family's hockey roots.

Drafted by the NHL

Later in 2017, Lias was picked by the New York Rangers in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He was the seventh player chosen overall, which is a very high pick! After being drafted, he signed a three-year contract with the Rangers in July 2017.

Playing in North America

During the 2017–18 season, Andersson started with Frölunda HC in Sweden. He played 22 games and scored 7 goals before leaving to play in the World Junior Championships. After that tournament, the Rangers sent him to play in North America. He joined their minor league team, the Hartford Wolf Pack, in the American Hockey League (AHL) in January 2018.

On March 25, Lias was called up to the Rangers. He made his NHL debut the very next day against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden. In that first game, he scored his first NHL goal! This made him the youngest Rangers player ever to score a goal in their debut game. After a few games, he was sent back to the AHL.

Moving to the Los Angeles Kings

Lias started the 2018–19 season in the AHL again. He played well for the Hartford Wolf Pack, getting 12 points in 14 games. This led to him being called back up to the NHL in November 2018.

In December 2019, Lias asked the New York Rangers for a trade. In January 2020, the Rangers loaned him back to HV71 in Sweden. His time with the Rangers officially ended in October 2020 when he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings gave up a second-round draft pick to get him.

Lias finished the 2019–20 season with HV71. He also started the 2020–21 season there before joining the Kings for their NHL training camp. He split his time between the Kings and their AHL team, the Ontario Reign. Lias scored his first goal for the Kings on January 24, 2021. He re-signed with the Kings for one year in July 2021 and again in July 2022. He spent most of the 2022–23 season with the Ontario Reign, playing only one game for the Kings.

New Teams and Current Play

On July 2, 2023, Lias signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens. He attended their training camp but was then sent to their AHL team, the Laval Rocket. He played for the Laval Rocket during the 2023–24 season.

In June 2024, Lias left the Canadiens organization. He signed a two-year contract with EHC Biel-Bienne in the National League (NL) in Switzerland. This is where he plays now.

Playing for Sweden

Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
Gold	2018 Denmark
World Junior Championship
Silver	2018 United States

Lias Andersson has proudly represented his home country, Sweden, in many international hockey tournaments.

He played for Team Sweden at the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championships. He helped Sweden win a silver medal, scoring nine points in seven games. He also played for Team Sweden at the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he scored three goals.

Lias was named the captain of Team Sweden for the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He helped lead the team to another silver medal. In April 2018, he was also part of Sweden's team for the 2018 IIHF World Championship, where Sweden won a gold medal!

Family Hockey Connections

Hockey runs in Lias Andersson's family! His father, Niklas Andersson, played in 165 NHL games. His uncle, Mikael, played in even more, with 761 NHL games. It's clear that hockey talent is a family tradition for the Anderssons.

Awards and Honors