Former 30-goal scorer to be placed on waivers by the Blackhawks today per Elliotte Friedman

With the 2024-25 season well underway, trade talk and roster shifts are starting to pick up steam, and the Chicago Blackhawks might soon be a part of that action.

Andreas Athanasiou is in his third season with the Blackhawks and finds himself in a little uncertainty with the team regarding his future.

In a recent episode of the '32 Thoughts' podcast, hockey insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Blackhawks might be getting ready to place Athanasiou on waivers, which would be quite a surprise among both fans and fellow teams.

Through 16 games to date, Chicago is 6-9-1 but has had a very minor role for Athanasiou; he's played in just five games and is averaging only 9:36 in ice time without a single point.

Athanasiou is in the final year of a two-year contract he inked with the Blackhawks in 2023 with a cap hit of $4.25 million.

He had a 40-point season last year with 20 goals and 20 assists, which earned him this two-year deal.

He did not have the greatest first year of that deal, however, with only two goals and seven assists in 28 games.

Friedman wouldn't confirm whether other teams are showing interest in Athanasiou, but the NHL waiver wire has been active; just yesterday, Nashville defenseman Dante Fabbro was claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets after he was placed on waivers the day prior.

The speedy Athanasiou, who is 30, once recorded more than 50 points in a season, with 30 goals and 24 assists with the Detroit Red Wings in 2018-19.

A fourth-round draft choice (110th overall) by the Red Wings in 2012, Athanasiou has carved out a respectable career in 492 games, recording 127 goals and 118 assists.