Rumor: Offersheet for RFA Athanasiou?

In his latest article for the Montreal Canadiens bog Habs Eyes on the Prize, blogger Scott Matla takes a look at unsigned Detroit Red Wings RFA Andreas Athanasiou and makes a case for the team to offer sheet the speedy young forward.

Despite a whirlwind of changes during the offseason, the Habs are still thin at the center ice position and Athanasiou’s addition could bolster the team’s lineup. While Alex Galchenyuk and Jonathan Drouin could both factor into the team’s plans down the middle, Athanasiou could give the team an intriguing third option in the top-six. 

The Wings currently sit $3 million over the NHL’s salary cap and any potential offer to Athanasiou by an opposing team would put them in a serious cap crunch. This, of course, increases the likelihood that the Wings would have to walk away from any offer… good news for the Habs.

While Athanasiou may not be the big fish that Habs fans have been hoping for given their lust for Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene, he’d no doubt be a cheap addition with top-end speed and skill.