Andreas Athanasiou trade grade: Oilers acquire speedster to play with Connor McDavid

“Ken? Steve here. Let’s make another deal.”

In less than 24 hours, Ken Holland and Steve Yzerman, 2 basic supervisors who go way back to the late ’90 s and 3 Stanley Cups when the former was the Red Wings GM and the latter his captain, made a second swap hours prior to the NHL trade due date.

First, as the clock stood out midnight on Feb. 24, Yzerman sent out Holland defenseman Mike Green and after that, around mid-afternoon on Monday, the 2 made another swap sending out the rapid Andreas Athanasiou to Alberta. This relocation is a big one for the Oilers, who need a proficient, rapid forward to play with Connor McDavid.

Oilers gotten from Detroit:

Andreas Athanasiou (F) and Ryan Kuffner (F)

Red Wings got from Edmonton

Sam Gagner (F), 2020 second-round choice and 2021 second-round choice

Oilers grade: A-

The Oilers faithful can no longer state their team didn’t do anything at the trade due date with the team obtaining among the fastest skaters in the league not called ConnorMcDavid This season, the 25- year-old forward has 10 objectives and 14 helps in 46 games; not varieties, nevertheless, bear in mind in 2015 he did post a 30-goal season– and this year’s Red Wings team is dreadful.

Sure, he is a league- worst minus-45 in plus/minus score, however that’s a number that’s extremely manipulated– and once again, not unforeseen thinking about how bad Detroit is. His CF% is rather reputable at 44.73 percent this season, although GF% leaves little to be wanted (2540), per Natural Stat Technique. Both must rise considering he’ll be playing together with McDavid– who raises everybody’s game around him– or the NHL’s point leader, Leon Draisaitl.

We’ll see how Athanasiou exercises on McDavid’s left side, however enjoying this blazing fast experiment must be enjoyable.
AA is a 15-20 goal gamer, however keep in mind, Pat Maroon had a profession high 27 next to McD.
Chiasson a CH 22
Kassian a CH 15.
20 = 30 next to No. 97.

— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) February 24,2020

Nevertheless, Sportsnet’s Eric Engels did report that a Red Wings colleague stated recently: “These young guys come in and think it’s all about the highlights. We’ve all talked to him to try to get him to understand how he’ll be successful but he doesn’t want to listen.”

So it might be a little a project for head coach Dave Tippett.

In Spite Of everything, the Oilers are fighting for a leading area in the Pacific Division and with the addition of Athanasiou, Green and Tyler Ennis from the Senators, the Oilers might lastly be primed for a long playoff run.

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