Andreas Athanasiou finally realizing potential, establishing himself as more than a trade chip

It’s hard enough to keep up with Andreas Athanasiou and his otherworldly speed. Now he is flying by, what seemed to be, constant trade rumors and leaving them on the back-check for good.

The fourth year forward is finally becoming a persistent threat when he is on the ice. The biggest gripe about his game in the past was inconsistency. He would become invisible for a 15 game stretch, only to transform into a completely different player for a five game span, then right back to his old habits. His hot streaks have been why many were not ready to give up on the now 24 year-old. We know he has electrifying speed, but when he combines that with offensive creativity, he looks like a star out there.

This season, Athanasiou looks to have finally put it all together. While 6 points in 10 games doesn’t seem very exciting, Double-A is generating grade A scoring chances consistently. His 5-on-5 shot map shows that quite well:

The shot locations are coming from all over, but more importantly, below the circles and around the net. A testament to his increasing scoring chances, is the fact that he is putting rubber on net much more. His 35 shots this season ties for 17th most in the league. He is recognizing space and pouncing on opportunities to get the puck on net.

Versatility has factored into his value as well. Shifting to center he added a second dimension, being able to change gears and spread the puck around. Before, it always seemed like a track meet, relying to much on straight line speed.

The long awaited breakout of Greece Lightning is promising, however the biggest challenge will be to keep up this level of play on a consistent basis – which has plagued him in the past.

Nevertheless, the trade rumors that have encircled him for the last 12 months are slowly vanishing. His presence on the trade block was intended to bring in a top-4 defensemen, but with the emergence of Dennis Cholowski, Athanasiou is looking to be a mainstay in Motown. The critics may start to turn towards Anthony Mantha, after a slow start, as the new trade piece to bring in another coveted blue-liner.

The London, Ontario native has been a pleasant surprise. He has established himself as one of Detroit’s best players this season and is forcing himself back into their long-term plans.