MLive’s Ansar Khan filed a mailbag feature this morning, and Khan discusses Andreas Athanasiou’s status as the Red Wings’ best “trading chip”:
Q: Is it possible that Svech and/or AA can or will be moved for a D? Even if not a ready NHL roster player, a good D prospect? – RWHockey
A: I don’t think they’re ready to unload Svechnikov after one down season in the AHL. Athanasiou probably is their biggest trading chip. They’re not going to move him just to clear a roster spot, they’ll want a good, relatively young defenseman in return. They have interest in Carolina’s Justin Faulk.
I think they’re prepared to go into the season with Athanasiou. They need to see if Filip Zadina and Michael Rasmussen make the team and if they do what kind of impact they will have. They probably also want to give Athanasiou another opportunity to show he can be engaged on a more consistent basis.
It might be crowded up front right now, but they’re not sure if Henrik Zetterberg will be back this season, and even if he is, it’s safe to assume he won’t be around in 2019-20. Gustav Nyquist might not be here then, either, and the same for Thomas Vanek. So that opens three spots in the top nine.
AA’s speed is nice to have but he is replaceable with Zadina or possibly Frk or Razzy.
I do not think AA is gone before the season starts. It would be smart to see if Vanek and he still have chemistry.
Trying to move Helm or Abbey while eating some contract might be the better move. Both those guys bring experience that might be valuable to competing teams looking to upgrade their 3rd line wings.