Blackhawks re-sign veteran forward to two-year contract

Chicago Blackhawks forward Andreas Athanasiou.

The Chicago Blackhawks have re-signed forward Andreas Athanasiou to a two-year contract worth $4.25 million per season, PuckPedia reported Wednesday afternoon.

Athanasiou, 28, collected 20 goals and 40 points in 81 games with the Blackhawks during the 2022-23 regular season. He had signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Blackhawks during the 2022 UFA period.

The Blackhawks now have an estimated $37.8 million in cap space with a 14-man roster for the 2023-24 season, with notable remaining restricted free agents including Philipp Kurashev, Ian Mitchell and Caleb Jones.

Athanasiou will return to a Blackhawks forward group led by the likes of Tyler Johnson, Taylor Raddysh, Kurashev and presumptive No. 1 draft pick Connor Bedard.

The Detroit Red Wings originally selected Athanasiou in the fourth round (No. 110 overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. The speedy winger made his NHL debut with the Red Wings in 2015-16.

Athanasiou peaked with 30 goals and 54 points in 76 games with Detroit during the 2018-19 season. The Red Wings ultimately traded Athanasiou to the Edmonton Oilers ahead of the 2020 trade deadline.

After joining the Los Angeles Kings before the 2020-21 season, Athanasiou collected 21 goals in 75 games with the club but missed most of his two campaigns in L.A. due to injury.

In 459 career games over parts of eight NHL regular seasons with the Red Wings, Oilers, Kings and Blackhawks, Athanasiou has collected 125 goals and 236 points. The 6-foot-2 winger has added two goals in 15 career playoff contests.

The Blackhawks finished the 2022-23 regular season with a 26-49-7 record and 59 points in 82 games. They won the lottery to move up from pick No. 3 to 1 in the 2023 NHL Draft.

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