Chicago Blackhawks forward Andreas Athanasiou is facing an extended absence from the lineup due to a lower-body injury, according to head coach Luke Richardson's announcement on Monday (as reported by Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago). Additionally, Richardson expressed optimism about winger Taylor Hall's return to practice on Wednesday after missing the recent game against Florida due to a lower-body injury.
Athanasiou, 29, experienced a limited 8:44 minutes of ice time against the Lightning on November 9 and was absent from the lineup against the Panthers. The seasoned player, with 470 games under his belt, has had a slow start to the 2023-24 season, contributing only four assists in 11 games and finding himself a healthy scratch.
Anticipation was high at the beginning of the season, envisioning Athanasiou and Hall as potential supporting forces for Connor Bedard and contributors to the power play. Despite a history of consistency challenges, the former Red Wings' fourth-round pick displayed promise last season, notching 20 goals and 40 points in 81 games while averaging 16 minutes per night for the Blackhawks.
