Report: Holland will refuse a trade just to send strong message!

The Andreas Athanasiou saga drags on in Detroit, but neither side is willing to budge. And according to Ansar Khan of MLive.com, the stalemate is not likely to end soon. 

Athanasiou has headed to  Switzerland, where he is skating with HC Lugano. It was reported that he is not going to sign with the Swiss club while he has refused to accept the Detroit Red Wings' latest two offers, one of two years at $1.9 million per season and another at one year at $1.25 million. 

Now the Red Wings are not going to attempt to move out Athanasiou since GM Ken Holland does not want to send the message to other young players who are up for contract extensions. 

"The club also is concerned about the message a trade would send to other young players who are up for contracts in the near future, that if they don’t get what they want the Red Wings also will accommodate them with a move," Khan writes. 

Athanasiou had leverage at first when signing with a KHL club appeared to be a feasible option since the season is well underway in Russia. Ak Bars Kazan rescinded its offer and the 23-year-old is losing money every day this saga draws on. 

As a free agent, if Athanasiou is not signed by  Dec. 1, he will not eligible to play in the NHL this season.

The only way Holland will trade Athanasiou is if he gets a an offer he can't refuse, such as a top-four defenseman or a similar fast forward, but until then, the message sent is strong, and not just for the other players.

Athanasiou hears it too...