Former Chicago Blackhawks forward emerges as prime candidate to join the Toronto Maple Leafs

Ontario native Andreas Athanasiou, still unsigned, could be just what the Leafs need to inject some speed and offensive into a lineup that still feels incomplete after a tough offseason.

With Mitch Marner now a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto has yet to fill the void in their top-six.

While Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua, and Matias Maccelli bring value, none offer the same game-breaking element that Athanasiou could provide if he's healthy.

The Leafs were previously linked to Jack Roslovic, but with few difference-makers left on the market, the 30-year-old Athanasiou stands out as a compelling option. His speed is among the best in the NHL, and in Craig Berube's north-south system, that trait alone is a valuable asset.

The forward is coming off two underwhelming years with the Blackhawks, where he struggled to find consistency. He was limited to just 36 games this past season, collecting three goals and ten points.

Still, he had success in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, showing flashes of the player who once tallied 30 goals in Detroit.

Just two years ago, Athanasiou scored 20 goals and 40 points, proving that he can still contribute when given the opportunity.

With 116 goals and 222 points in 422 NHL games, he's a low-risk bet with an interesting upside for a team looking to take a swing at a cheap player with a lot of potential.

On a short-term, low-cost deal, this could be a smart play by Toronto to boost their speed and secondary scoring.