The Chicago Blackhawks are hoping Andreas Athanasiou can finish a healthy season and contribute in 2024-25. Head coach Luke Richardson knows it won’t be easy, but he has confidence in the Blackhawks forward.
Richardson said: “He (Athanasiou) didn’t play a lot of hockey last year and I think he was probably frustrated and looking for a good start. I know he spent a lot of time here this summer working on his body and his fitness and he seems to be in great shape. Now it’s about giving him confidence and using his speed.”
Athanasiou will be on the team, and while some initially thought he would compete for the second-line center role, the Blackhawks appear to be going in a different direction with him.
Richardson continued, “I think he still looks good in the middle, so it’s not a bad spot where you have two veterans… a line that you can count on not to make mistakes, and it’s something where he obviously has to be more consistent and use his speed, because when he has the puck and he’s moving, he’s very dangerous out there.”
Athanasiou is a former 30-goal scorer in the NHL before his injuries and before leaving Detroit. It’s only been five years since he scored that many goals, but he’s also played for four different organizations since he scored that many goals in a season.
“I know he didn’t score, but he had a couple of good chances (in the Blackhawks’ preseason opener).” Richardson went on to talk about Athanasiou’s teammates so far, Pat Maroon and Craig Smith. The Blackhawks head coach noted that while Maroon is a tough player, he has good hands and can make some really good plays. Richardson also explained that Smith is a veteran who can shoot and has energy.
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The coach said: “If you put those three together, you have a lot of experience. Who knows if they will stay together, but at the moment it seems like there is good chemistry between them and we will see how it evolves.”
This would be the Blackhawks’ fourth line. Maroon won’t play higher than the fourth line because of the type of game he plays. While Smith has third-line potential, he also fits on the fourth line. It would be much more beneficial to have established veterans who know their role in the NHL to form a six-man backline, unlike last season when it was a mix of younger players and less experienced players.
While Athanasiou won’t be a 30-goal scorer from the fourth line anymore, he needs to regain his confidence and speed. He’ll be a part of the Blackhawks’ success, likely from the fourth line initially. There’s some chemistry between them and other options for the second and third lines. Over time, he could also have a better chance of scoring higher up the line. The Blackhawks need competition, but the roles will also be more defined this season.
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