The Blue Jackets have entered the trade frenzy as they are on the verge of acquiring winger Andreas Athanasiou from the Red Wings, Sportsnet’s Eric Francis reports (Twitter link). There is no word yet on the return. The deal doesn’t come as much of a surprise as he was held out of the lineup for their game on Sunday for asset management purposes which is code for a trade being close.
It has been a very strange season for the 25-year-old. Last year, he had a career-best 30 goals and 24 assists in 76 games and it looked like he was on his way to being part of Detroit’s long-term core. However, things have gone completely off the rails this season. He has struggled considerably offensively with only 24 points in 46 games while his plus/minus has been dreadful at -45. That’s already in the bottom 30 all-time among NHL forwards.
Athanasiou should get a big opportunity with Columbus, a team that has somehow managed to hang in the playoff hunt despite a ridiculously long list of injuries. At the moment, they’re missing two of their top offensive wingers in Cam Atkinson and Oliver Bjorkstrand, the latter being out for the rest of the regular season. That should give him an immediate opportunity inside their top six.
Athanasiou is slated to become a restricted free agent this summer with salary arbitration rights. He’ll be owed a qualifying offer of $3MM, his salary for this season.
Stevie Y’s 1st mistake as DRW GM
He got two second round picks in Edmonton trade for AA so I would say he got a great return from Holland. AA was one dimensional on a team that needed him to play two way hockey.
You haven’t even seen the return yet, jump the gun much?
Exactly!!!!