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.
The Detroit #RedWings today acquired center Sam Gagner, a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for center Andreas Athanasiou and left wing Ryan Kuffner. pic.twitter.com/TvdXRVaWqX
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings)
February 24, 2020 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.
