The Chicago Blackhawks, amidst their rebuilding phase, may be gearing up for some significant moves this season. After an unexpected healthy scratch in the recent game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Andreas Athanasiou's name has emerged in trade discussions as he is on the trade block. He has been made an extra at practice the past 3 days, practicing with the injured group and AHL players, despite being healthy.
Athanasiou, who recently inked a two-year, $8.5 million deal to remain with the Blackhawks, has faced a rocky start to the season. With just three assists and a minus-2 rating in seven games, he's been struggling to find his form.
However, despite his early-season struggles, Athanasiou remains an attractive middle-six forward. His 20 goals and 40 points in 81 games last season in Chicago attest to his scoring ability... he is also very, very fast.
It remains to be seen whether the Blackhawks will actively explore trading Athanasiou, but his potential availability has undoubtedly piqued the interest of other teams on the trade market. Hockey enthusiasts will be keeping a close eye on this developing situation.
