Andreas Athanasiou

Andreas Athanasiou
230px Athanasiou with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2015
Born	(1994-08-06) 6 August 1994 London, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position	Center
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Chicago Blackhawks Detroit Red Wings Edmonton Oilers Los Angeles Kings
NHL Draft	110th overall, 2012 Detroit Red Wings
Playing career	2014–present

Andreas Athanasiou (/æˈθənəsiu/ ah-THƏ-nə-SEE-ooh; born August 6, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Athanasiou was drafted 110th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Junior

During the 2009–10 season, Athanasiou scored at a better than a point-per-game pace playing for the Toronto Titans Midget AAA team in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. Athanasiou recorded 24 goals and 34 assists in 56 games. Athanasiou was drafted by London 81st overall in the 2010 OHL Priority Draft.

During the 2010–11 season, Athanasiou skated in 57 games as an OHL rookie with the London Knights. Athanasiou recorded 11 goals and 11 assists. The Knights reached the OHL playoffs despite finishing last in the Midwest Division. In six playoff games Athanasiou was minus-one with no points or penalties.

During the 2011–12 season, Athanasiou was one of five players to score 20 or more goals on a London Knights team that finished with the OHL's best record. Athanasiou recorded 22 goals and 15 assists in 63 games. Athanasiou skated in nine of the Knights' first 17 playoff games as London reached the conference finals and recorded one goal and 3 assists. Athanasiou was invited to the NHL Draft Combine and ranked 41st amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft.

During the 2012–13 season, Athanasiou skated for the Barrie Colts in his third OHL season after being obtained by the Colts in an August 2012 trade with London. Athanasiou was the fourth-leading scorer for the Colts, finishing third on the team with 29 goals and recording 38 assists in 66 games. Barrie reached the OHL championship against Athanasiou's former team. In 22 playoff games Athanasiou recorded 12 goals and 13 assists. Athanasiou joined the Detroit Red Wings' AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins during the Calder Cup playoffs but did not appear in any games.

During the 2013–14 season, Athanasiou led Barrie in scoring, and ranked fifth in the league in scoring during his final OHL season, recording 49 goals and 46 assists in 66 games.

Professional

Detroit Red Wings

On November 20, 2013, the Detroit Red Wings signed Athanasiou to a three-year, entry-level contract.

On April 15, 2014, Athanasiou was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins, and made his AHL debut on April 18, in a game against the Lake Erie Monsters.

During the 2014–15 season, in his first full professional season, he posted the best point-per-game average, 0.58, among Griffins rookies, recording 16 goals and 16 assists in a campaign that was limited to 55 games played due to a broken jaw. He finished fifth on Grand Rapids in postseason scoring, recording five goals and four assists in 16 postseason games.

Athanasiou made his NHL debut for the Red Wings on November 8, 2015 in a game against the Dallas Stars. On November 10, in his second NHL game, Athanasiou scored his first career NHL goal against Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals. On February 5, 2016, Athanasiou was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings. Prior to being recalled, he recorded eight goals and eight assists in 26 games for the Griffins.

On April 30, 2016, Athanasiou was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. During the 2015–16 season, Athanasiou recorded nine goals and five assists in 37 games for the Red Wings, while averaging 9:01 of ice time. On October 21, 2017 - following a contract holdout to begin the season - Athanasiou and the Red Wings agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $1,387,500.

During the 2019–20 season, Athanasiou recorded 10 goals and 14 assists in 46 games with the Red Wings, and owned a league worst plus/minus -45.

Edmonton Oilers

On February 24, 2020, Athanasiou was traded by the Red Wings at the NHL trade deadline, along with Ryan Kuffner, to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Sam Gagner and second-round draft pick in 2020 and 2021. He registered 1 goal and 1 assist in 9 regular season games before the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In returning for the post-season, Athanasiou went scoreless in four games as the Oilers failed to make the second round of the playoffs.

As an impending restricted free agent and due to salary cap considerations, Athanasiou was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Oilers on October 7, 2020, and was released to explore free agency.

Los Angeles Kings

On December 28, 2020, Athanasiou signed a one-year, $1.2 million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Kings. On July 28, 2021, Athanasiou signed a one-year, $2.7 million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Kings.

Chicago Blackhawks

As a free agent from the Kings, Athanasiou joined his fourth NHL team after signing a one-year, $3 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 13, 2022.

International play

Medal record
Representing Canada
Ice hockey
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
	2011 Slovakia
Representing Ontario
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
	2011 Manitoba

Athanasiou was part of the gold medal-winning Ontario team at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. Athanasiou was one of five players for Ontario who had five or more points in the five-game WHC, finishing with two goals and three assists.

Personal life

Athanasiou is ethnically of Greek and Guyanese (Indo-Guyanese) descent. His father is a pilot with Air Canada.

In 2017, Athanasiou adopted a vegan diet.

He is currently in a relationship with LPGA player Nelly Korda.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2009–10	Toronto Titans	GTHL		56	24	34	58	32		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	London Knights	OHL		57	11	11	22	21		6	0	0	0	0
2011–12	London Knights	OHL		63	22	15	37	22		11	1	4	5	0
2012–13	Barrie Colts	OHL		66	29	38	67	30		22	12	13	25	11
2013–14	Barrie Colts	OHL		66	49	46	95	52		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		2	1	2	3	0		6	0	1	1	6
2014–15	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		55	16	16	32	25		16	5	4	9	6
2015–16	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		26	8	8	16	9		6	2	3	5	2
2015–16	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		37	9	5	14	5		5	1	0	1	0
2016–17	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		64	18	11	29	28		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		71	16	17	33	16		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		76	30	24	54	38		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		46	10	14	24	26		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		9	1	1	2	4		4	0	0	0	2
2020–21	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		47	10	13	23	27		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		28	11	6	17	4		6	1	0	1	4
NHL totals				378	105	91	196	148		15	2	0	2	6

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2011	Canada Ontario	U17			5	2	3	5	2
2011	Canada	IH18			5	3	1	4	0
Junior totals					10	5	4	9	2

Awards and honours

Award	Year
OHL
Second All-Rookie Team	2011
CHL Top Prospects Game	2012
International
U17 Tournament All-Star Team	2011

External links

• Career statistics and player information from

• Semifinals Set At 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge; Tournament All-Star Team Announced – Hockey Canada