DETROIT – You know the NHL trade deadline is approaching (Feb. 25) when you start to hear all the rumors swirl even louder than before.
For the Detroit Red Wings -- the team sitting near last place in the league -- the trade rumors have been swirling for months. Whether it's trading goalie Jimmy Howard for a top pick or sending Gustav Nyquist to a contender, the Red Wings have been considered sellers. But now it's starting to get a little more real with February right around the corner.
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One of the latest scenarios for Detroit is the idea of trading away forward Andreas Athanasiou. Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman discussed this on their "31 Thoughts" podcast released Thursday. Friedman and Marek pointed to the Edmonton Oilers, who just fired general manager Peter Chiarelli (while his team was losing to Detroit at home), as a possible destination for Athanasiou. Edmonton is gooing through a management change, but they're only three points out of a playoff spot.
"He can play with (Connor) McDavid at that tempo, and that would be freightening to the rest of the NHL -- you want to talk about backing up the blue line, that's how you do it," said Marek.
Athanasiou, 24, has 17 goals and 13 assists in 45 games played this season. He is second in goals on the team ...