Athanasiou back versus Anaheim after missing four months. Former Notre Dame star Slaggert lined up to play first pro game versus Los Angeles.
Speedy forward Andreas Athanasiou, one of only two 20-goal scorers from the Blackhawks' 2022-23 team, will return to Chicago's lineup on Tuesday when it hosts Anaheim. The 29-year-old has missed four months with a groin/hip injury.
Prospect Landon Slaggert is expected to make his pro debut on Friday against Los Angeles. The 21-year-old forward led Notre Dame in scoring this season with 20 goals and 31 points, then signed a two-year contract on Sunday.
Athanasiou scored 20 goals and added 20 assists last season in 81 games while playing all three forward positions. He has been limited to 11 games and four assists in 2023-24.
Athanasiou left a Nov. 9 game at Tampa Bay after an awkward fall that hindered his ability to continue. He may have first triggered his core injury when he stepped on a puck in training camp.
Against the Ducks, he was slotted on the left wing of a line with Tyler Johnson centering and Taylor Raddysh on the right side. Raddysh, Chicago's other returning 20-goal scorer, hasn't connected since Dec. 14 and has just five goals and six assists in 60 games.
Athanasiou was as ready as he could be after the long layoff. See video.
More Than a "Groin Pull"
Athanasiou has been suffering from a multi-faceted core injury to the right hip and right groin, not just a fickle groin pull.
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." See story in link.
Slaggert Set
Slaggert took part in Tuesday's game-day skate. The Blackhawks signed him to a two-year, entry-level contract that runs through the 2024-25 season ($912,500 salary cap hit) after Michigan eliminated the Irish from the Big Ten Hockey Tournament on Saturday.
Slaggert said his arrival as a pro has been a whirlwind, but pulling on an NHL jersey was a dream come true that started as a little kid playing mini-puck in the basement. See video.
Slaggert skated in 36 games with Notre Dame during the 2023-24 campaign. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound native of South Bend, Indiana was selected by the Blackhawks in the third round, 79th overall, of the 2020 NHL Draft.
General manager Kyle Davidson took over for Stan Bowman after Slaggert was picked, but said the prospect is the "buzzball" style of player he wants for his rebuilding club.
"He just continued that style of play, the relentless high-compete style, and added a bit of offense this year, which was good to see and good for his confidence," Davidson said on Friday.
Slaggert bounced back from a poor junior season when he posted just 13 points, but he didn't make the Top 10 list of Chicago's prospects in The Hockey News 2024 Future Watch. That group is selected by a scouting panel.
Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said he wanted Slaggert to acclimate to his new team before likely making his pro debut.
"It will give us a little time to get with him a little," Richardson said. "It's a lot of information for a young guy to pick up and he's going to be excited. So we just want to give him a chance to get in a few practices here."
Slaggert native played a total of 136 games with Notre Dame over four seasons, totaling 47 goals and 92 points. He helped his hometown Irish to NCAA Tournament in 2021 and 2022.
“Landon has been part of my life since he was a little boy,” Notre Dame and legendary collegiate coach Jeff Jackson said. “I knew then that he had a warrior’s spirit. Landon has been one of the most complete players that I have ever coached. What makes him so special is that his character matches his ability.” See story in link: