Red Wings prospect Athanasiou humiliates two defenders, scores highlight-reel goal
Eventually, a time will come when the Detroit Red Wings don't have a list of prospects that make other teams envious. Until that day, feel free to watch this goal by Andreas Athanasiou on a loop because it's unbelievable.
Not only does Athanasiou send one Charlotte Checkers' defenders stick into the third row, he then rockets ahead with the puck, toe drags past the check of Mike Cornell and then follows it all up by popping Drew MacIntyre's water bottle off the top of the net with a slick backhand. See it for yourself:
Athanasiou seems a little shocked he scored the goal, honestly. His celebration is too subdued for what he just did to those poor Charlotte defenders. This is a goal the Checkers probably had to chalk up to one of those moments where the opposition simply took over.
The goal was Athanasiou's 13th of the season and 26th point in 40 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He was selected in the fourth round, 110th overall, by the Red Wings in 2012 and is coming off of a 49-goal, 95-point season with the OHL's Barrie Colts. If this kind of stick skill and speed translates to the NHL, the Red Wings may have yet another steal on their hands.