New York Islanders: Andreas Athanasiou would be perfect in Big Apple

The New York Islanders desperately need to add some offense at the NHL trade deadline. Andreas Athanasiou of the Detroit Red Wings would be a great target.

As the NHL trade deadline approaches, buyers are looking to add impact players as they hope to have extended postseason runs. The New York Islanders enter the deadline in a huge offensive rut. In their last four games, they have scored just two goals while getting shutout twice. If the Islanders want to contend for the Stanley Cup, they need to add some goal scoring.

But here’s the thing about goal scorers. They’re really valuable. Teams are very reluctant to trade them. Usually, when a team finds a goal scorer, they do whatever it takes to keep them around. So finding one is tricky. However, there is a very intriguing one out there in Andreas Athanasiou of the Detroit Red Wings. Athanasiou would be perfect for the Islanders.

Besides having one of the most awesome names in the NHL, he’s one of the league’s most gifted finishers. In his last 256 games, Athanasiou has 74 goals, 66 assists, and 140 points. He’s coming off a career season in 2018-19 when he had his first 30 goal season.

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The Islanders could really use that kind of talent. So let’s evaluate his game and look at why he’d be perfect for them.

THE BAD

Before I talk about why Athanasiou would be such a good fit, I’m going to address some concerns about Athanasiou. Like many offensively gifted players, he struggles defensively. Plus-minus is a horrible stat that doesn’t tell you what you think it tells you, but it’s hard not to cringe when you see Athanasiou’s NHL-worst -43 rating and his career rating of -73.

However, part of this is because the Detroit Red Wings have been horrendous defensively. Since the start of the 2016-17 season (when Athanasiou made the full-time leap to the NHL), here’s where the Red Wings rank in some key categories.

• Goals against per hour: 3.21 (second-worst)
• Shots against per hour: 32.13 (sixth-worst)
• Expected goals against per hour: 3.03 (third-worst)

As you might imagine, those horrible defensive numbers have taken a toll on Athanasiou. The 2019-20 Red Wings are one of the worst defensive teams in recent memory. They have allowed the most goals per hour and have allowed the ninth-highest expected goals per hour of any team in the post-2013 lockout era.

The Red Wings goalies have an 86% save percentage at 5v5 when Athanasiou is on the ice. That’s the worst mark in the league among forwards with at least 500 5v5 minutes. But just how bad is an 86% save percentage? The lowest league average save percentage in a full season is 87.3% (1981-82 and 1983-84).

THE GOOD

While Athanasiou has obvious defensive warts, playing for the Red Wings only makes them more obvious. On a better team, those warts wouldn’t be so prevalent because he’d have better teammates and better coaching to put him in better situations.

Also, Athanasiou has a positive impact on offense. In four of his five seasons, he has had a positive impact on expected goals for, scoring chances for, and high-danger scoring chances for (all at 5v5). At 5v5, Islanders have the ninth-worst expected goals for per hour and the 18th-most scoring chances per hour. Athanasiou would help there.

Another reason why he’d be such a great fit is because of Barry Trotz. He’s arguably the best coach in the NHL. Trotz gets the most out of his players and he puts players in positions where they can have success.

Unfortunately, general manager Lou Lamoriello hasn’t done too much to help him. The best skater Lamoriello has added to the Islanders roster since Trotz took over in 2018 is Derick Brassard. Trotz deserves much better. Lamoriello should have a ton of confidence in his coach. He can show it by giving him talented players like Athanasiou. Especially when Trotz needs guys who can score goals.

Another reason the Islanders should add Athanasiou is that he likely won’t cost too much to acquire. Mike Hoffman would be an incredible fit, but the Florida Panthers probably aren’t trading him and his price would likely be too high. Jean-Gabriel Pageau was born to play for Trotz, but he’ll likely cost a first-round pick and the Ottawa Senators are trying to extend him. But even if the Islanders go out and get Pageau or Hoffman, they could still easily afford Athanasiou.

Trading for Athanasiou would be a low-risk and potentially high-reward move. Athanasiou is essentially a rental because he’ll be a restricted free agent after this season. If the Islanders like him, they can sign him to a new contract. And if they don’t, they can decline to sign him to a qualifying offer and be done with him.

The Islanders defense is good enough to contend for a Stanley Cup. Goaltending is voodoo, but their defense is strong enough to make it less of a variable. The Islanders need offense and though he has his flaws, Athanasiou is someone they should look at.