Blackhawks' Teaching Workers Have Nice Thought of The place Athanasiou Will Play in 2024-25

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September 24, 2024

The Chicago Blackhawks are hoping that Andreas Athanasiou can full a wholesome season and be a contributor in 2024-25. Head coach Luke Richardson is aware of it isn’t going to be simple, however he has confidence within the Blackhawks ahead.

Richardson stated, “He (Athanasiou) did not play a whole lot of hockey final 12 months and I feel he was in all probability pissed off and in search of a great begin. I do know he spent a whole lot of time right here this summer season engaged on his physique and his conditioning and he seems to be like he’s in nice form. Now it is simply to get him assured and utilizing that velocity.”

Athanasiou goes to be on the group, and whereas some initially thought that he would compete for the position of second line heart, the Blackhawks seem like going a distinct route with him.

Richardson continued by saying, “I feel he at all times seems to be good within the center, in order that’s not a nasty spot the place you bought two veteran guys…a line which you can depend on to not make errors, and that is one thing the place he has to clearly be extra constant at and use his velocity, as a result of when he has the puck and he is transferring, he is very harmful on the market.”

Athanasiou is a former 30 objective scorer within the NHL earlier than accidents and earlier than he left Detroit. He’s solely 5 years faraway from that, however he has additionally performed for 4 totally different organizations since scoring that many objectives in a season.

“I do know he did not rating on the market, however he had a few actually good possibilities (within the first pre-season recreation for the Blackhawks).” Richardson goes on to speak about Athanasiou’s linemates up to now in Pat Maroon and Craig Smith. The Blackhawks’ head coach famous that though Maroon is a rugged participant, he has nice fingers and might make excellent performs. Richardson additionally defined that Smith is a veteran that may shoot and has power.

The coach stated that “You set these three collectively and there is a whole lot of expertise. Who is aware of if they’re going to keep collectively, however proper now it seems to be like there’s a good little bit of chemistry there and we’ll see the way it grows.”

This may be the fourth line of the Blackhawks. Maroon will play no increased than the fourth line due to the kind of recreation he performs. Whereas Smith has the potential to play on the third line, he suits in on the fourth as properly. It ought to be rather a lot higher having some established veterans who know their position within the NHL to make up a bottom-6 line in contrast to final season when it was a combined bag of youthful gamers and fewer skilled gamers.

Though Athanasiou is just not going to be a 30 objective scorer once more from the fourth line, he must get his confidence again and his velocity working like it may possibly. He’ll play a task within the success of the Blackhawks, seemingly from the fourth line to begin. There may be chemistry there and different choices for the second and third strains. With a while, he might get higher seems to be increased up within the lineup too. Competitors is what the Blackhawks want, however roles might be extra specified this season as properly.