Andreas Athanasiou Bio
Andreas Athanasiou is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Athanasiou was drafted 110th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and has spent more than a decade as a skater known for his speed and offensive instincts.
Born in Woodbridge, Ontario, Athanasiou developed through the Greater Toronto Hockey League before becoming a prolific scorer in the Ontario Hockey League. Across his professional career he has suited up for four NHL organizations and contributed at both the top level and in the minors, building a reputation as a dynamic, if sometimes streaky, offensive forward.
Early Life and Background
Andreas Athanasiou was born on August 6, 1994, in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a family with a strong aviation connection; his father works as a pilot with Air Canada, and Athanasiou is of Greek and Guyanese descent. The Woodbridge neighborhood, located in the city of Vaughan just north of Toronto, has long been a fertile region for young hockey talent, and Athanasiou began skating at a young age in that competitive environment.
During the 2009–10 season, Athanasiou played for the Toronto Titans Midget AAA team in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. He produced at better than a point-per-game pace, recording 24 goals and 34 assists in 56 games. The performance convinced OHL scouts that he was ready for the next level, and the London Knights selected him 81st overall in the 2010 OHL Priority Draft.
Path to Hockey
Athanasiou joined the London Knights for the 2010–11 OHL season, where he adjusted to the junior game as a rookie and posted 11 goals and 11 assists in 57 games. He grew into a top-six role during the 2011–12 season, becoming one of five Knights players to score at least 20 goals and helping the club post the OHL’s best regular-season record.
Midway through his junior career, the Barrie Colts acquired Athanasiou from London in an August 2012 trade. In 2013–14, his final OHL campaign, he led Barrie in scoring and finished fifth in the entire league with 49 goals and 46 assists in 66 games. He also represented Ontario at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, winning a gold medal.
Andreas Athanasiou Career
Early Career (2014–2017)
The Detroit Red Wings signed Athanasiou to a three-year entry-level contract on November 20, 2013, and assigned him to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL for the 2014–15 season. Limited to 55 games by a broken jaw, he still led Griffins rookies with a 0.58 point-per-game average, finishing with 16 goals and 16 assists.
Athanasiou made his NHL debut for the Red Wings on November 8, 2015, against the Dallas Stars, and scored his first career NHL goal two nights later against Washington goaltender Braden Holtby. After a brief stint back in the minors, he returned to Detroit on February 5, 2016, and finished his rookie NHL campaign with nine goals and five assists in 37 games.
Detroit Red Wings Breakthrough (2015–2020)
Following a brief contract holdout to open 2017–18, Athanasiou and the Red Wings agreed on a one-year deal worth $1,387,500, and he emerged as a regular contributor in Detroit’s top nine. His blend of straight-line speed and finishing touch made him a fixture on the power play during his late-twenties seasons in Detroit.
During the 2019–20 season Athanasiou recorded 10 goals and 14 assists in 46 games for the Red Wings, although he finished with a league-worst minus-45 rating. On February 24, 2020, Detroit traded him, along with Ryan Kuffner, to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Sam Gagner and draft picks. With Edmonton he managed one goal and one assist in nine regular-season games before the COVID-19 pause ended play.
Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings Era (2020–2022)
The Oilers did not tender Athanasiou a qualifying offer in October 2020, allowing him to reach free agency. He signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings on December 28, 2020, and later agreed to a one-year extension worth $2.7 million on July 28, 2021.
Chicago Blackhawks Era (2022–2024)
As a free agent following his time in Los Angeles, Athanasiou signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 13, 2022, becoming a member of his fourth NHL organization. On June 7, 2023, he inked a two-year extension with the Blackhawks carrying a $4.25 million average annual value.
After opening the 2024–25 season as a healthy scratch for stretches, the Blackhawks assigned Athanasiou to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL on November 24, 2024. His contract with Chicago expired at the end of that campaign, and he subsequently became an unrestricted free agent.
Driving Style and Strengths
Athanasiou is widely regarded as a speed-first winger who thrives in transition and on odd-man rushes. His quick release and ability to separate from defenders at top speed make him a dangerous complementary scorer, while his smaller frame has at times limited his effectiveness in heavier playoff battles and defensive-zone matchups.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Athanasiou’s most memorable moments are his first NHL goal against Braden Holtby in 2015, his trade-deadline move to Edmonton in February 2020, and his 2022 signing with Chicago. He also captured a World U-17 gold medal with Ontario in 2011, an early sign of the offensive upside he would later show at the professional level.
Andreas Athanasiou Career Wins
While individual win totals vary by season and team success, Athanasiou has consistently contributed offensively at every stop. His most productive NHL campaigns came during his Detroit tenure, when he posted back-to-back seasons of more than 20 goals before a midseason trade reshaped his career path.
NHL Highlights
Athanasiou scored his first NHL goal on November 10, 2015, against the Washington Capitals. He later added goals with Edmonton, Los Angeles, and Chicago, with his 2017–18 Detroit campaign standing out as one of his strongest individual seasons in the league.
Other Wins and Performances
In junior hockey Athanasiou won a gold medal with Ontario at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, registering two goals and three assists in five games. He also helped the London Knights reach the OHL conference finals in 2011–12 and advanced deep into the OHL playoffs with the Barrie Colts the following spring.
Andreas Athanasiou Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Athanasiou’s father works as a pilot with Air Canada, and the family is of Greek and Guyanese descent. Athanasiou adopted a vegan diet in 2017, citing both health and ethical reasons.
Personal Life
From 2019 to 2025, Athanasiou was in a relationship with professional golfer Nelly Korda, one of the top players on the LPGA Tour. Their pairing drew attention in both the hockey and golf worlds during those years.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Athanasiou’s immediate playing future remained uncertain after the Blackhawks assigned him to Rockford in late November 2024. With his contract set to expire at season’s end, his role with the IceHogs offered a chance to reset his game and showcase his offensive skills for potential NHL suitors.
Any return to the NHL at this stage of his career would likely depend on finding the right fit as a depth scorer on a contending roster. His speed and shot remain his calling cards, even as teams weigh how those tools translate to bottom-six minutes in a salary-cap environment.
As of mid-2025, Athanasiou was an unrestricted free agent weighing his options, with the possibility of a fresh contract or another AHL assignment both on the table. His next move will be a key test of whether his skill set still translates at the top level.
