The Edmonton Oilers, like all contending clubs, are looking for all the help they can get on affordable deals. That situation means targeting once productive players with cost-effective contracts like Professional Tryout Offers (PTO).
This point in the summer is when unsigned UFAs could become PTO candidates in hopes of landing an NHL job for the upcoming season. One such candidate could be former 30-goal scorer Andreas Athanasiou.
Athanasiou was a fourth-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2012 NHL Draft. He had a breakout season in 2018-19 when he scored 30 tallies for the Red Wings. He was in a contract year the following season. So, he was traded to the Oilers.
In nine games during the remainder of the 2018-19 season, Athanasiou scored one goal. That underwhelming performance prompted the Oilers to let him walk away in free agency. Since then, Athanasiou has fallen on hard times. He signed a two-year, $8.5 million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023, but found himself on waivers last season after a tough year.
Now that Athanasiou is a UFA, he could be a worthwhile gamble for the Oilers. Edmonton loses nothing by reuniting with the 31-year-old on a PTO. If he proves he’s still got something left in the tank, he could be a solid addition to the Oilers’ bottom six.
Otherwise, the two sides can shake hands and move on. It’s a low-risk gamble that contenders like the Oilers often take with a formerly productive player.
Oilers Shouldn’t Expect Much from Athanasiou
While it would be a fantastic story to see Athanasiou get back to his former 30-goal form, it’s unlikely that’s the case. The best-case scenario would be to see Athanasiou earn a regular lineup spot, ideally on the Oilers’ third line.
He could chip in offensively, with 10 to 15 goals being a tremendous output. Athanasiou’s solid size could also play a factor in making him a good physical presence. That’s something the Oilers would like to see from their team’s overall forward group.
However, the likeliest spot for Athanasiou would be the fourth line. He might have a better shot at displacing forwards like Mattias Janmark and Kasperi Kapanen than Trent Frederic or Andrew Mangiapane.
Even if Athanasiou could make the team, Oilers fans shouldn’t expect much from him.
Never Count Out a Player Looking to Prove Something
Every new NHL season brings a host of players with something to prove. These players have fallen on hard times or have lost their jobs due to injury or inconsistency. That’s why teams like the Oilers look for such players. These NHLers enter training camps with something to prove.
That’s one of the strongest motivations anyone can have. A player with a chip on his shoulder can work harder than others to prove he still belongs. While many of these players ultimately don’t work out, they can provide short-term value.
That’s what cap-strapped contenders like the Oilers generally look for. So, why not take a flyer on a player like Andreas Athanasiou? There’s a potential upside there without the shackling burden of a long-term contract.
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