Athanasiou has had a tough season and one to forget, but the Blackhawks can get more out of him in 2024-25.
Athanasiou has had a tough season and one to forget, but the Blackhawks can get more out of him in 2024-25.
Andreas Athanasiou has had a rough go with the Chicago Blackhawks this season, scoring just one goal and recording eight points in 25 games. The 29-year-old forward is still signed for one more year and the team needs a bounce-back in a big way from him in 2024-25.
Athanasiou recorded four assists in the first 11 games of the season before suffering an a groin/hip injury on Nov. 9 in a game at Tampa Bay. It was a tricky core injury that derailed his season until his return on March 12.
Otherwise, the speedy Athanasiou might have gotten going as the season progressed. Along with Taylor Raddysh, he was one of two returning 20-goal scorers from last year's team.
The Blackhawks weren't going to trade Athanasiou this season as the team signed him for two years in the offseason at $4.25 million AAV. This is a contract that overpays to ensure a player chooses Chicago over another team in free agency, but also to help push the Blackhawks to the cap floor and keep a solid player on the roster.
That being said, the rebuilding Blackhawks didn't do much at the trade deadline this season. Chicago really didn't have many players available who could help contenders.
In January, the Blackhawks extended the contracts of three key veterans — goalie Petr Mrazek and forwards Jason Dickinson, and Nick Foligno. Those signings have all been great for the Blackhawks, a young team that needs leadership and has to reach the cap floor somehow. Why not keep the players you know can get the job done and be good role models for the players on the rise?
The Blackhawks signed three times the number of players that the team traded at the deadline this year, only moving forward Anthony Beauvillier to Nashville. Depending on how much Chicago improves in 2024-25, next season may be different.
The Blackhawks have five first-round picks, eight second-round picks, four third-round picks, and four fourth-round picks in the next three drafts on top of a strong pool of prospects. But it may not hurt to have more or give the team more options moving forward.
Athanasiou has not been overly impressive this season, but since returning has had some good games. His speed can kill and he is getting back up to speed. Still, more offensive production is expected of him.
Athanasiou is a former 30-goal scorer in the NHL, but reached 20 goals for only the second time in his career with the Blackhawks last season. To go along with those 20 goals, the winger added 20 assists. For his price tag, those are very acceptable numbers. What needs to turn around next season is the offense, which should come if he's healthy.
It does take time to get back in the swing of things in the NHL, so give Athanasiou the benefit of the doubt. But his 2024-25 has to be a lot better. The Blackhawks must see at least 80% of what he produced in 2022-23 in order to get value from him during the season and possibly at the trade deadline in 2025.
With the talent coming for the Blackhawks, it's expected Athanasiou's final year of his deal in Chicago will be his last with the team. If the Blackhawks can move him and get any sort of return, that means the season was more successful.
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