FEATURE: Athanasiou Experienced Growth in Center Position

In a career-high 81 games played this season, Andreas Athanasiou experienced growth on the stat sheet this year after putting up 20 goals and 20 assists for his highest point production since the 2018-19 season with the Detroit Red Wings with 54 (30G, 24A).
For him, he viewed this past year as an opportunity to learn new things and grow as both a player and a person to create positive steps towards his playing style.
"I think every year and every day is a learning day and I think you come into each year trying to do the best you can and grow as a player and person," Athanasiou said. "I think this year, I definitely grew a little bit and learned for sure and trying to get better. So, it's always a step in the right direction."

While he felt the team created a strong bond together after battling through tough stretches throughout the season, he also felt that he grew after changing positions on the wing to a familiar positon as a center in the final few weeks of the season.
"But, just growing as a player, obviously, playing center, the last few games, trying to work on everything really by getting better in the dot, and using my speed in the D zone as much as possible and let the rest take care of itself," Athanasiou said.
In the last game of the regular season, the forward scored his 20th goal of the year to tie the game at 4-4 in the third period before they fell 5-4 in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers. Following the matchup, head coach Luke Richardson noted the growth that he has seen in Athanasiou over the season not only off the ice but on it as well.

With the transition from wing to center, Richardson felt it suited his playing style more and made him a better player in the final stretches of games. Moving forward, he can see Athanasiou moving back to that position and could be a potential fit with the Blackhawks depending on how the offseason plays out.
"Hopefully he likes it enough to know that we trust him, and he has some opportunity here at the end of the year and made the most of it," Richardson said. "We're happy with it and we'll see where that goes for next year."
While he heads into the next few months of uncertainty with free agency, he hopes to secure a long-term contract deal whether that is with the Blackhawks or possibly elsewhere after his production improvement.
Once he moved back into the center position later in the season, he described it as a natural feeling to him. Growing up, it was the main position he always played and suited well to his speed style of play.
"I feel like when I'm playing center, I guess it's an opportunity to skate a little more and just use my use my feet a little more all over the ice," Athanasiou said. "So, it's obviously something I like to do, and I definitely enjoy playing as a center, for sure."
As he heads into the offseason, his main focus shifts to resting his body and look back on the season to see how he can improve moving into next year.
"It's kind of just get some rest here and let the body heal up and then kind of reevaluate and see what the plan is and figure out what needs to be fixed and what needs to improve," Athanasiou said.