Andersson Tallies Five Points in SHL Preseason Game

Lias Andersson tallied five points (two goals, three assists) to help HV71 (SHL) win its preseason game on Sept. 5 against Linkoping. The Rangers' first round pick (seventh overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has registered five goals in six preseason games this year with HV71, and he has recorded at least one goal in four of the six contests. Andersson registered 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in 15 SHL games with HV71 to conclude the 2019-20 season, and he tallied a goal/point in six of the final nine games of the season (seven goals, three assists over the span). He ranked 13th in the SHL (min. 15 games played) in points per game last season (0.80), and he led all SHL players who were in their U22 season or younger (min. two games played) in points per game in 2019-20 (Nils Lundkvist ranked second among SHL players in their U22 season or younger in points per game last season - 0.69).

• Vitali Kravtsov tallied a goal and led all skaters with six shots on goal in Traktor's second game of the 2020-21 KHL regular season on Sept. 6 against Kunlun. He also recorded five shots on goal, registered eight shot attempts, and logged 16:41 of ice time (including 5:08 of ice time considered time on attack) while skating in his first game of the 2020-21 KHL regular season on Sept. 3 against Avtomobilist. Kravtsov played on Traktor's second line at even strength during the first two games of the season, and he also played on Traktor's top power play unit in each contest. The Rangers' first round pick (ninth overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft led all KHL players younger than 20 years old in goals (eight), assists (13), and points (21) with Traktor in 2018-19, and his 21 points were tied for the ninth-most by a player in his U20 season or younger in KHL history (tied with current Ranger Artemi Panarin). Kravtsov played in the KHL All-Star Game during the 2018-19 season, and he was named the KHL's Rookie of the Year in 2017-18. He registered 11 points (six goals, five assists) during the 2018 KHL Playoffs, which were the most by a teenager in one playoff year in KHL history. Kravtsov recorded more playoff points in one year than any other teenager has in their career in KHL history.
• Nils Lundkvist tallied a power play assist to help Lulea earn a win in its preseason game on Sept. 3 against Bjorkloven. The Rangers' first round pick (28th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft recorded 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) and a plus-18 rating in 45 SHL games with Lulea last season. Lundkvist's 31 points and 20 assists in 2019-20 were each the most by an SHL defenseman in his U20 season or younger in league history, and his 11 goals were tied for the most by an SHL defenseman in his U20 season or younger in league history. His 31 points, 20 assists, and plus-18 rating were each the best by an SHL player in his U20 season or younger (regardless of position) last season, and he tallied nine more points and nine more assists than any other player in his U20 season or younger in the SHL in 2019-20. Lundkvist tied for fifth in the SHL in plus/minus rating and ranked 17th in the SHL in average ice time (20:18) last season while helping Lulea post the best record in the league. He was one of only two SHL players who registered 30 or more points and a plus-18 rating or better in 2019-20. Lundkvist tied for sixth among SHL defensemen in goals and assists, and he ranked seventh among SHL defensemen in points last season.
• Karl Henriksson re-joined Frolunda (SHL) during the past week after playing in two preseason games with Sweden's U20 National Team during the final week of August. Henriksson wore the 'C' as Sweden's captain in each of the two games and registered two points (one goal, one assist) over the two contests. The Rangers' second round pick (58th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has recorded two points (one goal, one assist) in three preseason games with Frolunda this year, and he has played on the team's top line in each of the three contests. Henriksson registered 41 points (six goals, 35 assists) and a plus-12 rating in 27 games with Frolunda's J20 team last season. Despite only playing 27 games in SuperElit, he tied for third in the league in assists last season (all of the other players among the top 20 in the league in assists skated in at least 30 games). In addition, Henriksson ranked sixth in SuperElit (min. 20 games played) in points per game in 2019-20 (1.52). He also tallied three points (one goal, two assists) in seven games while helping Sweden earn a bronze medal at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Yegor Rykov played his first three games of the 2020-21 KHL regular season with CKSA Moscow between Sept. 2 and Sept. 7. Rykov logged 17:46 of ice time (fourth-most on the team and third-most among team defensemen), including 4:20 of ice time which was considered time on attack (second-most on the team), in CSKA's 3-1 win on Sept. 4 against Sochi, and he posted a plus-two rating in 16:56 of ice time (third-most on the team) in CSKA's 3-1 win on Sept. 7 against Barys Nur-Sultan. The 23-year-old registered 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 27 AHL games with Hartford last season. Rykov tied for second among KHL defensemen younger than 22 years old in points in 2018-19 (nine).
• Lauri Pajuniemi notched an assist on the game-winning goal, recorded three shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating while skating in a team-high 20:16 of ice time in TPS' preseason win on Sept. 3 against Lukko. The Rangers' fifth round pick (132nd overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft registered 40 points (26 goals, 14 assists) in 49 games with TPS in Liiga last season. Pajuniemi led all players who were in their U21 season or younger in Liiga in goals and tied for first among players who were in their U21 season or younger in Liiga in points in 2019-20. He tied for third in Liiga in goals, ranked second in power play goals (13), and ranked ninth in shot attempts (252) last season. In addition, Pajuniemi became the fourth player over a 30-season span (1990-91 - 2019-20) in Liiga who recorded 26 or more goals in a season as a U21 player or younger (along with Teemu Selanne, Saku Koivu, and Jarkko Varvio).
• Leevi Aaltonen recorded two points (one goal, one assist), both in the third period, notched the primary assist on the game-winning goal, and posted a plus-two rating in KalPa's preseason win on Sept. 5 against JYP. The Rangers' fifth round pick (130th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft registered seven points (one goal, six assists) in 45 games with KalPa in Liiga last season. Among players who were in their U19 season or younger in Liiga in 2019-20, Aaltonen tied for third in games played, and tied for seventh in assists and points.
• Calle Sjalin notched an assist and posted a plus-one rating to help Leksands earn a win in the Skoda Trophy tournament against Vita Hasten on Sept. 4. The Rangers' fifth round pick (145th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft split last season between Leksands in the SHL and Vasteras in Allsvenskan.

Quotebook

"Something I really wanted to focus on (coming to Cornell University as a freshman) was trying to be someone who could play in any situation. As a freshman, I didn't really have the opportunity to (play on the) penalty kill (and) I wasn't someone who was on the ice at the end of the game, whether we were down a goal or up a goal. Since then, I think I've really worked into that position where this year, I was one of the first guys who was getting called on. That was something I was really proud of; I was someone who was able to play on the wing, play center, (play on the) penalty kill and power play, play at the end of the game, and play big minutes if needed." - Rangers prospect Morgan Barron, who agreed to terms on an entry-level contract with the Rangers on July 31, discussing his development over three seasons at Cornell
"I would describe myself as a two-way power forward. I think I'm someone who can play at both ends of the ice. I love to compete, I love to play in games, and I love to win. I think those are the three main things probably about myself as a player, and my biggest strength probably would be trying to use my size to my advantage."- Rangers prospect Morgan Barron on how he would describe himself as a player