Athanasiou, a 6-2, 190-pound native of Woodbridge, Ontario, split last season between the Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers. The 26-year-old forward started the season with the Red Wings, posting 24 points (10-14=24) in 46 games. He was traded at the deadline to the Oilers where he posted two points (1-1=2) in nine games before the season was cut short. He went scoreless in four games with Edmonton during the postseason.
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Originally selected in the fourth round (110th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Red Wings, Athanasiou is entering his sixth season in the NHL, having appeared in 303 regular-season games posting 156 points (84-72=156). During the 2018-19 season he posted a career-high 30 goals and 54 points, second on the Red Wings in both categories. He has also appeared in nine postseason games, posting one point (1-0=1).
Prior to joining Detroit, he spent parts of three seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL), appearing in 83 regular-season games and recording 51 points (25-26=51) and a plus-11 rating. He also played in 28 postseason games, totaling 15 points (7-8=15) and a plus-9 rating.
