Predicting the 2018/19 Detroit Red Wings Team leaders

Breakout Candidate: Andreas Athanasiou

Everyone loves to predict the player they feel will aspire to have a breakout season; I am no different.  I think this will be the year AA sets career highs in all major statistical categories.  He won’t lead the team in any of them but expect a much better offensive outburst from the young center.

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Athanasiou will see the most significant bump in ice-time this season with the departure of Henrik Zetterberg.  With the increased ice comes more responsibility.  AA along with many others, me included have lobbied for more ice-time for the young forward, and this will be the year Blashill will be forced to allow it.

The Detroit Red Wings needed to fill a hole in the line-up at center.  AA will start the season as the Wings third line center.  Although we would rather see him plugged into the two hole, it is a start.  AA will see some power play time giving him more opportunities for points.

He has made a conscious effort (thru preseason) to improve on the defensive side of his game and has been working on his ability to work his way back into the play rather than floating around center ice. I have Andreas Athanasiou pegged for 26 goals and 22 assists, totaling 48 points.