Rumor: Issues with Jeff Blashill may land Wings forward on the trading block.

Trouble in Detroit?

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Rumor: Issues with Jeff Blashill may land Wings forward on the trading block.
David Kirouac/CSM/Zuma

We have a very interesting report coming out of Detroit, although at this time it appears to be rumor rather than a substantiated fact.

TSN's National Hockey League insider Darren Dreger recently commented on the current state of the Detroit Red Wings, a team that is expected to be a seller at the National Hockey League's upcoming trade deadline, and he had some very interesting comments to share indeed. Dreger not only touched on the rumors of a rather significant trade from the organization but also hinted at why the trade could happen in the first place.

Dreger openly admitted that he has been hearing talks of a trade involving Red Wings' forward Andreas Athanasiou, although he would go on to add that he was unable to corroborate those rumors with his sources within the Red Wings' organization.

“His name crossed my desk last week, and I did some checking with my Red Wings sources. I was told ‘No, no, no, no.’ Unless it’s one of those can’t miss opportunities, they see Athanasiou as being part of their future, that development of a younger core,” said Dreger as per TSN.

There's no question that Athanasiou's talent has been an important part of what the Red Wings' have done offensively this season and, even though the team has had contract disputes with the player in the past, it's hard to imagine a world in which a rebuilding team wants to eject a 24 year old showing that much promise. Even on a losing team this season Athanasiou has produced 17 goals and 13 assists for a total of 30 points through his first 45 games of the season.

With that in mind you have to wonder what would motivate such a move from the Red Wings? Well according to Dreger there have been rumblings of a conflict between Athanasiou and head coach Jeff Blashill. Once again however Dreger did admit that he has been unable to confirm the voracity of those rumors.

“Now, in saying that, where do these rumours and where does the speculation come from. Is the player unhappy in Detroit? There’s been some who wonder about his relationship with Jeff Blashill. I’m not there. I don’t know that to be true. But I don’t think that that’s enough to encourage a change in Detroit. And based on the feedback I got from the Red Wings, I think that the speculation is a little off-base.”

If Athanasiou is moved at the deadline you can bet there will be a lot of fingers pointed in Blashill's direction.

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