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you all made me smile with your responses to my last post. Detroit’s options for any type of improvement in net are wide ranging to say the least. From serious speculation on candidates like Jake Allen to chuckle-worthy song parodies (and a gentle down to earth reminder about Cholowski from the west coast) I’m not sure I’ve ever enjoyed your personalities more. I am grateful to all of you for your time and thoughtfulness.
Mark Spector penned a very telling piece for Sportsnet regarding Athansiou in Edmonton. While I acknowledge that breaching this topic is a bit like kicking a hornet’s nest, I think it merits some attention. When the deal was first made, many Wings fans cried “foul” for the return of 2 second round picks. I even had a message sent that guaranteed A.A. would average more than a point per game and make the trade look horrible. Reality hit, points in 9 games while skating with McDavid.
Spector noted that the speedster was given a look on a line with Draisaitl during camp and has lost that spot to Tyler Ennis. The talk now has turned to the reality that Holland may not qualify “doubles”. It is a $3 million dollar qualifier for the RFA, and right now that looks like too much money. To hear that is shocking. The speed and skill are there. Even Tippett acknowledges that. The problem is finding the spot where it all clicks.
For years, I’ve been baffled when star players put up a stink when a “lesser” player is traded away. Crosby did not want James Neal traded away. He loves having Neal on his line. Hornqvist did not look like a suitable replacement, but he made it work. Essentially, “Holmstrom V2” gave the star player some space and knew how to take enough abuse to help the team. Toews didn’t want Andrew Shaw to go. Another player whose stats look easily replaceable but the intangibles make a huge difference to the linemates.
And so, how on earth is Athanasiou not able to “make hay” with two of the best players in the NHL? Spector’s quote is this: So far, Athanasiou has not panned out. He flamed out next to Connor McDavid upon arrival, and after spending the first week of Phase 3 on Leon Draisaitl’s left wing, Athanasiou lost his spot to Ennis at Sunday’s scrimmage.
Ennis, of the 3 (Green, Athanasiou, Ennis) was looked at as a weaker acquisition. Spector tops it all of: Here is the money quote, where Ennis and Athanasiou are concerned: “(Ennis) plays off people very well, reads off people, and has good skill. Top players like to play with guys like that because they’re good compliment players.”
There are players who show up and can change almost everything about their game. Those are the players who superstars need to be with. An understanding of how to let the stars lead and succeed. A.A. isn’t there yet. And now, what many thought of as a career changing opportunity is slipping away.
Spectors thoughts on the acquisition is made immediately clear :
Mike Green cost Holland a fourth round pick in 2020. He played two games for Edmonton before getting injured, then opted out of the playoffs. Green is an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Ennis, a pending UFA, came to Edmonton from Ottawa for a fifth-round pick. Athanasiou, a pending RFA, cost the Oilers the pricey sum of two second-round picks.
Note that, the “pricey” sum. Yzerman, at this point, is way ahead on this deal. instead of Green finishing the season on IR in Detroit, Yzerman pockets a 4th round pick (Green has opted out of the return to play and will be a UFA). Tyler Ennis seems to be outperforming A.A., and only cost a single firth round pick. Two 2nd round picks are now gone, and A.A. may not stick. It’s heartbreaking in one sense, you want this player to succeed. It’s eye opening in another, “If only A.A. were on a line with a top center” can now be laid to rest. Whatever hesitation may have existed in upcoming negotiations may well be on display after this deal. Yzerman, to many, has done well in the early returns.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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