7. Andreas Athanasiou
This is the one non-tendered restricted free agent on the list since it’s one of the few we know about at this time. The Edmonton Oilers gave up two 2nd-round picks to get Andreas Athanasiou at the NHL Trade Deadline, but it went so terribly they decided to give him up for nothing. He was a restricted free agent, so the Oilers could have at least tried to get something for him. GM Ken Holland couldn’t get a deal done, and now they are moving on.
Athanasiou is one of the few 26 year olds that are now available (he’s not on the free agency list because technically he’s still the Oilers property for now). Obviously, things didn’t go well in Edmonton, but he’s been a productive forward in the past. His qualifying offer was for $3 million, so that’s likely around what he will be looking for on the free agency market.
Athanasiou scored 30 goals two seasons ago. This isn’t like Toffoli who scored 30 goals four seasons ago. There’s one season in between Athanasiou being a 30-goal scorer and not. Asking him to bounce back into that isn’t asking for a lot. If the Devils give him a two-year deal for a total of $7 million, it’s well worth the risk.
This one is fun to think about. Athanasiou has a ton of speed. So does Hughes, Miles Wood, and Jesper Boqvist. It could be one of those X factors that help the Devils once they are ready to compete. Sure, speed on its own can’t win hockey games, but it sure helps. AA would be a good addition as Tom Fitzgerald’s first free-agent signing.