Jeremy Laura: Mlive believes Athanasiou may not be part of Wings future

I have a Mattias Ritola jersey...
- Jeremy Laura

Tampa Bay Lightning legend.

I have no idea what Red Wings management actually thinks about AA. All I'll say is that, if the Red Wings ARE going to make a legit hockey trade that isn't just dumping vets for prospects, or shuffling bottom sixers, AA seems by far the most likely to go for the following reasons:

- He's good enough that other teams actually want him -- especially good teams that would be willing to part with young players the Wings need.

- His relatively one-dimensional skillset might not necessarily be the greatest fit for Detroit right now, but there's a good chance he might really thrive on a better structured, better coached team that can compensate for his weaknesses. In short, he'd probably be more valuable to, say, Carolina than he is for Detroit, which means more value coming back the other way.

- He's still an RFA after this season, so he's not a pure rental. The team getting him would still have some degree of control over his next contract (or be entitled to further compensation if he leaves). Again, that increases the potential return on a trade.

That said, my personal perspective is that I'm not desperate to trade him. If no offers come in that make sense from Detroit's perspective I'd be happy to keep and try to re-sign him.

It's not so much that I think the Red Wings should get rid of AA as it is that I think he's the most likely centerpiece of any trade that could meaningfully improve the roster.

AA is a one dimensional winger, He uses his speed to create offense. His defense sucks. Don't see AA being an Yzerman guy. Yzerman preaches a 200 ft game and that's not AA so no surprise here.

Tampa Bay Lightning legend.
- Feds91Stammer

And a soothing all natural cough drop. Wait...

I have no idea what Red Wings management actually thinks about AA. All I'll say is that, if the Red Wings ARE going to make a legit hockey trade that isn't just dumping vets for prospects, or shuffling bottom sixers, AA seems by far the most likely to go for the following reasons:

- He's good enough that other teams actually want him -- especially good teams that would be willing to part with young players the Wings need.

- His relatively one-dimensional skillset might not necessarily be the greatest fit for Detroit right now, but there's a good chance he might really thrive on a better structured, better coached team that can compensate for his weaknesses. In short, he'd probably be more valuable to, say, Carolina than he is for Detroit, which means more value coming back the other way.

- He's still an RFA after this season, so he's not a pure rental. The team getting him would still have some degree of control over his next contract (or be entitled to further compensation if he leaves). Again, that increases the potential return on a trade.

That said, my personal perspective is that I'm not desperate to trade him. If no offers come in that make sense from Detroit's perspective I'd be happy to keep and try to re-sign him.

It's not so much that I think the Red Wings should get rid of AA as it is that I think he's the most likely centerpiece of any trade that could meaningfully improve the roster.
- Sven22

I agree from the point of him being a high value target. When Puljujarvi wasn’t picked up in time, the market shifts to RFAs. On a team with strong depth, A.A. could come into his own without any defensive lapses being magnified. St. Louis or Boston would be a really good fit and he could be paired with responsible guys who can feed him

Kind of funny you mentioned Carolina being interested in AA so they could use his speed on the forecheck. AA doesn't forecheck or back check. He's strictly give me the puck and let me do what I want with it guy. Great speed, great goal scoring ability. But he wants to do it all by himself. Good for 30 goals a season, but only half the assists.

Kind of funny you mentioned Carolina being interested in AA so they could use his speed on the forecheck. AA doesn't forecheck or back check. He's strictly give me the puck and let me do what I want with it guy. Great speed, great goal scoring ability. But he wants to do it all by himself. Good for 30 goals a season, but only half the assists.
- Wingsfan61

He seems like a great fit for what Carolina does.

Problem is we have very little cap space and will likely have even less once Williams returns.

Kind of funny you mentioned Carolina being interested in AA so they could use his speed on the forecheck. AA doesn't forecheck or back check. He's strictly give me the puck and let me do what I want with it guy. Great speed, great goal scoring ability. But he wants to do it all by himself. Good for 30 goals a season, but only half the assists.
- Wingsfan61

I’ll disagree on semantics. Technically, rushing the O zone with the puck IS a forecheck. He doesn’t help enough on the cycle. Back check needs help for sure. I do think it’s flawed to say he doesn’t forecheck though

He seems like a great fit for what Carolina does.

Problem is we have very little cap space and will likely have even less once Williams returns.
- BINGO!

There would certainly be moving pieces. I believe VanRiemsdyk is on an expiring deal. He could be a possible piece.

I do think that the issues with AA in the past, him holding out and reportedly an issue in the locker room, may be a enough for some teams to back off. He already commanded a higher salary than he is currently worth, look at his lack of production. And teams looking at him will have noted that these next contract negotiations probably wont be much different. A lot to risk for a guy who may only get you 20 goals