450+ Game NHL Veteran Suddenly Emerges as Strong PTO Option for the Vancouver Canucks

Andreas Athanasiou with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Photo credit: Chicago Tribune

A 450+ game veteran in the National Hockey League could be a potential professional tryout (PTO) option for the Vancouver Canucks in training camp next month.

The Vancouver Canucks are prepared to begin the 2025-26 season with how their roster stands currently, but that doesn’t mean Patrik Allvin isn’t still looking for a potential addition to the team’s forward group.With training camps around the National Hockey League set to begin in a little over a month, we’re going to start seeing some unrestricted free agents put pen-to-paper on professional tryouts (PTO) in the coming weeks and there’s one intriguing option Patrik Allvin could consider.

450+ game NHL veteran could be potential PTO target for Vancouver Canucks

With the NHL’s free agency window entering its 41st day, there are still a number of notable names still available, many of whom will likely either have to settle for a PTO to prove that they’re worthy of a guaranteed contract or head overseas to Europe.

One player who is still on the open market as of Monday is 31-year-old forward Andreas Athanasiou, a former fourth-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2012 who has nearly 500 games of experience in the National Hockey League.

“Seeing Athanasiou still being a UFA at this juncture of the summer is understandable, as he had a tough 2024-25 season. He most notably was placed on waivers by the Blackhawks back in November and spent the bulk of the season at the AHL level with the Rockford IceHogs after not being claimed by another NHL team.” Michael DeRosa of The Hockey News said recently.

The Woodbridge, Ontario native has struggled to produce in the National Hockey League recently, but has one 30-goal season and one 20-goal season under his belt and could be a good fourth line piece for many clubs.

Athanasiou’s speed and hands are his two best attributes and while he might not be the point producer he was early on in his career, the experience he would bring to an NHL dressing room would be quite valuable.

It’s going to be interesting to see where Andreas Athanasiou lands over the next few weeks and if he’s able to sign an NHL contract or perhaps take on a new chapter in his career by heading overseas.

Previously on CanucksDaily

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450+ Game NHL Veteran Suddenly Emerges as Strong PTO Option for the Vancouver Canucks

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