Lias Andersson is coming to Broadway.
The Rangers called up the 20-year-old Swedish center from AHL Hartford on Monday evening, and he is expected to make his NHL season debut Tuesday against the Canadiens at Madison Square Garden.
Andersson, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft, has tallied four goals and eight assists in 14 games in Hartford this season after not making the NHL squad out of training camp.
Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton said two weeks ago that the team prefers Andersson see more playing time with the Wolf Pack compared to the seven or eight minutes he might get in the NHL. But Andersson's impressive play on Hartford's top units coupled with Brett Howden's upper-body injury (which will likely keep him out against Montreal) make the callup a sensible move as the Rangers go for their fourth-straight victory.
Andersson celebrated his 20th birthday on Oct. 13 with a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick," registering a goal, an assist and a fighting major. On Friday he put up a goal and two assists in a loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The Swedish center put up a goal and an assist in seven games with the Rangers last year.