NY Rangers questions: After a tumultuous season, what's next for Lias Andersson?

With the NHL season on pause due to the coronavirus, we'll be producing a series of stories about the 2019-20 New York Rangers. First we looked at what we learned, and now we'll examine questions that remain unanswered:

Just before Christmas, the Lias Andersson saga took a surprising and dramatic turn. 

Unhappy with his situation — used sparingly in 17 games with the New York Rangers before being demoted to AHL Hartford — the No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft packed his things and went home to Sweden.

The sudden decision to leave without the Rangers' permission and request a trade seemed to be the low point. Then, in an early January interview with Sweden's Gothenburg Post, Andersson raised red flags by hinting at "incidents that have disturbed me," though he never went into specifics after that. 

The selection made with the first-round pick acquired in the trade that sent Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to the Arizona Coyotes, who was supposed to be a focal point in the Rangers' rebuild, had turned into a perceived bust.

Making matters worse, there was little-to-no trade market for Andersson — in part because he had produced only nine points in 66 NHL games, including just one assist this season, and in part because his departure stripped the Rangers of any negotiating leverage.

If the Rangers were going to honor his request for a fresh start, they weren't going to get value anywhere near the slot where he was drafted.

Instead, they decided to hold their ground and see if there was another hand to play. Team president John Davidson was persistent with attempts to contact Andersson, which at least partially thawed the relationship.

By late January, they were back on speaking terms, with the focus eventually shifting back to hockey. The Rangers granted Andersson permission to play in the Swedish Hockey League and loaned him to the HV71 club. 

After struggling to gain traction in the U.S., which Andersson said had "become too difficult mentally," he found some peace with HV71. He registered 12 points (seven goals and five assists) in 15 games, with one source telling the USA TODAY Network, "He is smiling again."

So, what's next for Andersson? That's a tricky question.

He and Davidson remain in regular contact, and the Rangers believe his production in Europe has at least slowed down the "bust" talk. His trade value has slightly improved from where it was in January, which reopens the possibility of a move this offseason.  

But what if the Rangers don't trade him? Is it even possible that Andersson would show up to training camp for the 2020-21 season?

Only Andersson can answer that question, but the Rangers haven't shut the door on it. It feels like a long shot — but after taking criticism over how he handled the initial trade request, perhaps he's motivated to show maturity and resolve by giving it another try. 

The Rangers aren't banking on it, identifying the center position as their biggest need during the signing period for undrafted college free agents. But by holding on to Andersson, rather than selling low, and extending an olive branch by allowing him to play in Sweden, it's possible that better solutions may be materializing. 

ICYMI: What we learned in 2019-20

BUILDING BLOCKS: Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad are superstars

EXTENDED: Chris Kreider is here to stay for NY Rangers

PASSING THE TORCH: The future is now for No. 1 goalie Igor Shesterkin

STEPPING UP: Rangers have options thanks to right-handed 'D' depth

BIG PICTURE: The Rangers rebuild remains on track

Questions that remain

CENTER DEPTH: How do Ryan Strome and Filip Chytil fit into the plans?

KAAPO KAKKO: Is the rookie's development on track? Or has it stalled?

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.