Detroit Red Wings: Andreas Athanasiou is going to get paid

When Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland signed both Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha to “bridge” deals, I thought it was the correct move.  Now I wish the Wings had signed Athanasiou to a long-term deal.

Before the start of the regular season Detroit Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou expressed a little displeasure with his head coach.  Nothing too severe, he just publically mentioned to the media that if he were granted more ice-time, he would be much more productive.

Sometimes that would rub a head coach the wrong way, specifically a veteran coach.  I couldn’t imagine a Mike Babcock response to a player expressing something like this publically rather than in a closed-door meeting.  Jeff Blashill seemed not to be bothered, and he had an answer for his young forward.  He said ice-time is earned, it’s playing a 200-foot game not just producing offense, show you belong and you will earn the ice.

In this case, Jeff Blashill was correct.  Last season Athanasiou was often found floating at center ice hoping for a breakaway pass from one of his teammates.  Floating would often leave his teammates undermanned in their own zone, at times five on four opportunities for opposing teams while Athanasiou skated parallel to his own blueline hoping for a break.

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He’s been a different player this season for the Detroit Red Wings.  He’s primarily played the wing up until the trade deadline.  Playing the wing has eliminated some critical defensive zone responsibilities, he has some but not nearly as many as a center.  He’s rewarded his coach with the most productive offensive season of his young career.

Since the trade deadline, Jeff Blashill has mentioned he will play as a center for the remainder of the season. In my opinion, a center is more valuable to a team than a winger.  If you can get a couple of premier center’s, you will have a chance to win every game.  Look at how well Dylan Larkin has advanced if Athanasiou can take a similar stride forward next season the Detroit Red Wings will be in business especially with Joe Veleno on his way and the potential of landing Jack Hughes.

When the Detroit Red Wings signed Athanasiou and Mantha to bridge deals this past summer, I was thrilled.  I felt it was a great decision rather than rewarding them with long-term deals.  We complained about Gus Nyquist and Tomas Tatar long-term deals so we can’t really whine and complain about short-term “show me” type deals.

This time I think it will come up and bite us.  Although we have a history of over-valuing our young players, I believe this time Andreas Athanasiou will earn himself a significant raise.  He looks like he will reach the 30 goal mark on the season.  With scoring a pair yesterday, he’s second on the team one behind Larkin with 26 goals.

Last summer Ken Holland would have been able to re-sign Andreas to a five-year deal worth about 4.5-5 million per season.  If he continues to progress and say next season, he shows he’s a more complete player who can score 35 goals he will earn himself a massive raise.  He would likely command Larkin type money or even more.

I try not to overvalue players after having such high hopes for Tatar and Nyquist after they each scored nearly 30 goals and then had a reputation to fade away particularly in the playoffs but it seems Athanasiou is turning into something special.

Andreas Athanasiou has one year remaining on his current deal that will pay him 3 million dollars next season before he once again becomes a restricted free agent.  On the season he’s achieved 26 goals, 18 assists totaling 44 points.