Blackhawks Forward Andreas Athanasiou Finally Eyeing Return

Speedy 29-year-old forward and 20-goal scorer out since Nov. 9 with a frustrating core injury that has involved his right groin and hip.

Blackhawks forward Andreas Athanasiou, out since Nov. 9 with a what the team first called a groin injury, has resumed limited practice sessions with his teammates and may be approaching a return.

But the normally speedy 29-year-old still isn't sure when that will be. The Toronto-area native doesn't have a timeline yet, but he's encouraged by progress.

"We're just taking it day by day not and seeing how it is in the skates," Athanasiou said Tuesday. "Just kind of trying to take it up a level every day and just get that pop back."

"If and when I'm back...obviously I'll be sure that I'm ready to go," he added. "When you deal with something for so long, and something so nagging, obviously it gets in your head and you think about it all the time. 

"But I think it's come a long way and it's getting better and it's almost up to speed." 

Athanasiou covers it all in the following video.

Athanasiou, one of only two 20 goal scorers from Chicago's 2022-23 team, signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract in June. He can play all three forward positions and was slotted to provide skilled, veteran support around rookie Connor Bedard.

Athanasiou has been limited to 11 games and four assists this season.

He left a Nov. 9 game in Tampa Bay after an awkward fall that hindered his ability to continue. He may have first triggered the injury when he stepped on a puck in training camp.

The Blackhawks won the contest against the Lightning 5-3 as Connor Bedard posted two goals and two assists. That's the last road game Chicago has won; the Blackhawks currently are on a 21-game winless streak away from the United Center.

Taylor Hall also suffered a torn right ACL in Tampa, leading to season-ending surgery.

Athanasiou has been suffering from a multi-faceted core injury to the right hip and right groin, not just a fickle groin pull. 

Core injuries can bedevil even the fittest, fasted hockey players at all levels. The muscles and mechanics involved are often different for each skater. Getting an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan can be tricky, but it's essential to recovery and maintenance.

Athanasiou said he got a good picture of his condition, literally. It still  impacted his ability to skate even routinely and caused pain off the ice.

"Once we did the MRI, we figured out what it was and went from there," he said "There are so many factors. I took a pretty weird fall in Tampa. So that was probably the big part.

"When I looked a the fall, it was pretty ugly, so it could have been pretty bad," he added. "Obviously it still sucked, but not has bad as it looked for sure."

Coach Luke Richardson is excited about getting Athanasiou and said doctors have given a green light for his return.

Great acceleration and glide lead to the forward's speed, but Athanasiou has to feel comfortable about the game's quick starts, stops, turns and awkward movements. See Richardson in the following video.

Richardson recalled something was wrong with Athanasiou after his  fall in the first period of the game against the Lightning. 

"I think in the second period he had a partial break, and if it was any other game and he was healthy he would have had a breakaway," Richardson said. "I could see him almost kind of wincing going down the ice...  Most nights he would have been in clear cut.

"So I think it kind of trickled in," Richardson added. "Minor injury in training camp. Kind of fought through it, settled down and just made it worse in that game.

"Not out of nowhere, but I didn't think it was that severe, for sure."

Athanasiou said his current injury wasn't related to one he had in 2021-22 with Los Angeles.

"It's very frustrating," he said. "Obviously being a skater as my strong suit and not being able to skate is definitely not a good feeling."