It seems Andreas Athanasiou’s time in Chicago has come to an end.
The 30-year-old forward was placed on waivers by the Blackhawks today, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. This doesn’t come as a surprise, as Friedman reported on the 32 Thoughts Podcast and on Twitter that he expected Athanasiou to be waived on Monday.
Waivers: Athanasiou (CHI) as previously reported.
Benning (TOR) & Kahkonen (COL) too
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 11, 2024
Athanasiou is in his third season with the Blackhawks, having joined the team in free agency in 2022. He’s currently in the final year of a two-year contract worth $4.25 million annually that he signed in the summer of 2023.
Despite getting off to a decent start in Chicago with 20 goals and 40 points in 2022-23, the past two years have been more difficult for Athanasiou. He struggled with injuries last season, notching only two goals and nine points in 28 games. He’s been on the outside looking in with the Blackhawks this season, going pointless in just five games.
This represents a continued fall from grace for a once highly touted prospect. Athanasiou established himself as a decent middle-six scorer with speed to burn early in his career in Detroit, where he topped out at 30 goals and 54 points in 2018-19. The Oilers acquired him at the trade deadline the next season, sending Sam Gagner and two second-round draft picks to Detroit for the speedy winger.
That trade still haunts the Oilers. Not only was Athanasiou a poor fit, with just two points in 13 games between the regular season and playoffs, but those draft picks have come back to bite them.
The 2020 pick eventually ended up in Los Angeles, who used it on defenceman Brock Faber. Acquired by Minnesota in exchange for Kevin Fiala, Faber has since blossomed into a stud shutdown defenceman for the Wild, placing second in Calder voting last season.
The 2021 2nd had a similar trajectory, going from Detroit to the New York Islanders, who selected Finnish centre Aatu Raty. Raty was later sent to Vancouver as part of the Bo Horvat trade and looks poised to be a solid bottom-six centre for the Canucks at just 21 years old.
Given his $4.25 million cap hit, it’s unlikely that Athanasiou is claimed off waivers. In that case, he’ll ply his trade for the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate in Rockford, offering an injection of speed and skill as well as a veteran presence for a young IceHogs team filled with NHL prospects.
The Blackhawks are placing Andreas Athanasiou on waivers today. If he clears, which is likely, it could be good for him to rediscover his game in Rockford, but also beneficial for Frank Nazar to play with someone with elite speed and higher offensive potential. https://t.co/CxSVSknmWV
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) November 11, 2024
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