Blackhawks Place Recent 20-goal Scorer Andreas Athanasiou on Waivers

Is Andreas Athanasiou being placed on waivers a surprising move? Not really, as he had been a healthy scratch in 11 of the Chicago Blackhawks' 16 games thus far. But it's a long fall from grace for the 10-year veteran over the past couple of years in the Windy City.

Word is trickling down that the Blackhawks are placing Andreas Athanasiou on waivers as early as today.

Last season AA put up only 2 goals 7 assists over 28 games. This season he has only played 5 games with 0 points. $4.25M cap hit will be a hard pill to swallow for any team.… pic.twitter.com/mOSEJtc7m4
— Hockey Barn Review (@hockeybarn_) November 11, 2024

In the 2022-23 season, his first full year with the Hawks, Athanasiou recorded 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points, then was signed to a two-year, $4.25 million AAV deal after the season.

That turned out to be a disastrous contract for the Blackhawks, as he played just 28 games last season due to a groin injury that derailed him for most of the year. He recorded just two goals and nine points.

This season he has not gotten back on track, and in his five games played, has only seen the ice for 9:36 per contest, and has no points.

“I just think with his injury last year that kept him out a lot of last year, he missed a lot of hockey then and unfortunately just not clicking on all cylinders yet this year, not in the lineup that much,” head coach Luke Richardson said, per WGN 720. “He hasn’t really played a lot of games. So that was the message, if you get picked up, that’s probably good for you. That means you’ll be playing in the NHL. But if not, we need him to just go play some games and get his skill matched up with his confidence. This league is really not for that. That was that message.”

With his hefty cap hit, it's unlikely Athanasiou will be claimed on waivers, allowing Chicago to potentially send him down to the AHL, or perhaps try to trade him to any interested parties.

The 30-year-old hit his peak in the NHL back in the 2018-19 season with the Detroit Red Wings, when he popped 30 goals. Overall, in 492 games, he has 127 goals and 245 points.