In Red Wings Land

Red Wings seek to maximize Andreas Athanasiou’s ‘best attributes’

Some interesting things in this article. First off, it appears that there is at least a chance we get the most fun line we’ve had in a while reunited at home. Also, it appears that Blashill is attempting to balance his lies on the road, although we’ve seen that lines don’t really stay together on the road.

Athanasiou had been playing wing on a line with Larkin and Mantha, and Blashill may go back to that group for home games. But putting Athanasiou at center appeals because “the difference between center and wing for him is he is a guy who skates when he gets the puck. He doesn’t have the same habits of skating without the puck – like, Helmer has really learned as a winger how to skate to open space without the puck. AA kind of waits till he gets that puck. Well, it’s hard to get it on the wing as much. You get it way more at center. So I just think getting him in the middle of the ice where he can get the puck and attack up the ice with speed probably uses his best attributes.”

My biggest concern is that AA won’t get enough ice time. As long as he does, I’m open to trying some different things.

Around the NHL

Statistically Speaking: Kessel and Malkin carry Penguins – Article – TSN

Scott Cullen always does a good job on these articles. Take a look at the latest heroes and zeroes.

Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko – St. Louis’ top line led the way at New Jersey with Schenn and Tarasenko both putting up a goal and two assists in a 3-1 win. Schenn has 12 points (2 G, 10 A) in the past eight games, and Tarasenko has 15 points (5 G, 10 A) in the past 12 games. Tarasenko also had 11 shot attempts (7 SOG) at New Jersey.