DETROIT - In three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Andreas Athanasiou goes from one extreme to another.
He will electrify the crowd and teammates with his speed and finishing ability. He also will be a non-factor for long stretches due in large part to his reluctance to go all-in on puck battles.
The 23-year-old forward has much untapped potential, but the Red Wings don't know which player will show up on a given night. They continue to hope experience and maturation will lead to consistency.
"My message to AA was I, as a coach, have to know what I'm getting every single shift," coach Jeff Blashill said Tuesday, following locker cleanout.