After reports that the Red Wings were close to trading Andreas Athanasiou to Columbus, they wound up shipping him to Edmonton a couple hours before Monday's trade deadline.
Edmonton will send Detroit two second-round picks and center Sam Gagner, while Detroit will include center Ryan Kuffer in the package to the Oilers.
Athanasiou, 25, has struggled this season after breaking out with 30 goals in 2018-19. He had 10 goals in 46 games for Detroit, although he seemed to be turning a corner of late.
He'll be a restricted free agent this summer, and Steve Yzerman apparently didn't envision him as part of the Red Wings' future.
In a corresponding move Monday, Detroit claimed winger Dmytro Timashov off waivers from the Maple Leafs. Timashov, 23, had nine points in 39 games in a limited role for Toronto this season. He should step into a bigger role in Detroit.
Gagner, 30, had five goals and 12 points in 36 games this season for the Oilers. He'll be a free agent this summer.
It's the second deadline-day trade between Yzerman and former Red Wings GM Ken Holland. Detroit also shipped Mike Green to Edmonton early Monday morning for a conditional fourth-round pick.
The trade deadline comes at 3 p.m.
