Unpopular former Oiler on the verge of losing NHL career
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When it comes to current free agent, Andreas Athanasiou, the question that comes to mind is, What have you done for me lately?
Over the course of his 11-year NHL career, which began by being drafted 110th overall in 2012 by the Detroit Red Wings, Andreas seems to have always been on the verge of breaking out, often showing the promise he displayed over his junior career, but always falling short.
Former Oiler Andreas Athanasiou getting little interest in free agent market
It's a frustrating proposition, when a coach sees that a player is capable of much more, but is inevitably disappointed because of failed expectations. This has been the case with Andreas Athanasiou who, only weeks away from the start of NHL training camps, remains unsigned, and on the cusp of losing his career.
"Seeing Athanasiou still being a UFA at this juncture of the summer is understandable," NHL.com analyst wrote recently in his article, "as he had a tough 2024-25 season. He most notably was placed on waivers by the Blackhawks back in November and spent the bulk of the season at the AHL level with the Rockford IceHogs after not being claimed by another NHL team."
It has been an ongoing theme with Athanasious, where he is given opportunity after opportunity to succeed at the NHL level, only to wind up in the minors, as was the case most recently with the Chicago Blackhawks this past season, where he only played 18 games with the team.
It was more of the same in 2019-20, when he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers, but only managed to stay with the club for 9 games.
When he found himself on waivers early last season, even the underlying metrics weren't good for Athanasiou.
Yet, Andreas Athanasiou did show promise, and had the skills, and speed, to realize it. Before he was drafted, Andreas posted 95 points in 66 games in the OHL, and finished with 25 points over 22 playoff games. It seems he is quite capable of producing.
Over his NHL career, Athanasiou has recorded 236 points (128G, 118A) in 495 games played. As recently as 2022-23, he scored 20G and 21A in 81 games played with Chicago. It's the kind of potential that four NHL teams have seen in Andreas, and the reason he was signed by them to professional contracts.
However, despite his UFA status, it's quite possible that Andreas will receive a professional tryout with a club that is in need of some scoring depth, one that is willing to take a shot on the 31 year-old forward; a GM that believes this may just be the year he breaks out and fully realizes his potential.
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