Blackhawks, Athanasiou agree to 2-year, $8.5 million contract
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 08: Andreas Athanasiou #89 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates with the puck during the second period of a game against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on April 08, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Christophe
CHICAGO - The rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks locked in one of their top scorers, agreeing to a two-year, $8.5 million contract with forward Andreas Athanasiou on Thursday.
The 28-year-old Athanasiou tied for the team lead with 20 goals and ranked third with 40 points in his first season with Chicago. He matched career highs with four game-winning goals and three power-play goals.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Athanasiou has 125 goals and 111 assists in 459 games with the Detroit Red Wings (2015-20), Edmonton Oilers (2020), Los Angeles Kings (2020-22) and Blackhawks.
Chicago went 26-49-7 and finished last in the Central Division. The Blackhawks dealt Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers prior to the trade deadline and announced in April they would not re-sign Jonathan Toews, parting with two players who led them to Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015.