Eyes On Isles
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Islanders: Best four targets on the Athletics trade deadline big board

ByMichel Anderson|
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Tyler Toffoli #73 of the Los Angeles Kings during warm up before a preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks at Staples Center on September 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Tyler Toffoli #73 of the Los Angeles Kings during warm up before a preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks at Staples Center on September 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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TORONTO,ON – DECEMBER 6: Andreas Athanasiou #72 of the Detroit Red Wings waits for a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 6, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Red Wings defeated the Maple Leafs 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO,ON – DECEMBER 6: Andreas Athanasiou #72 of the Detroit Red Wings waits for a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 6, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Red Wings defeated the Maple Leafs 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Andreas Athanasiou | Detroit Red Wings

Big Board Rank: 22
Stats: 36GP 5G,14A, 19Pts 

After a breakout year in 2018-19 where he scored 54 points, Andreas Athanasiou isn’t having the same success this season. With 19 points in 36 games, he’s on pace for 39 points by the end of the year.

Again, things aren’t going well in Detroit for Athanasiou. And with a new GM in town, he could be on the way out at the trade deadline.

According to The Athletic, Athanasiou just isn’t Yzerman’s “cup of tea”.

Should the Islanders move a first-round pick for Athanasiou?

He’s a pending restricted free agent, so he isn’t a rental. He has 30 goal potential, so he could fit with what they are looking for. All of that sounds great. But that’s yet another RFA contract that the Islanders would have to figure out. With Mathew Barzal, Ryan Pulock, and Devon Toews already on their list of pending RFAs.

A contract will likely have to go Detroit’s way to balance the books in 2020-21. The Islanders have a few contracts they’d like to move but there’s little reason for Yzerman to take either Andrew Ladd or Johnny Boychuk.

Perhaps if Jordan Eberle doesn’t turn a corner he could be used to make some cap space. The same can be said for Josh Bailey and his contract. But then again, just like with Ladd and Boychuk, why would Yzerman want to bring them in?

I like Athanasiou, but I don’t know if I’d restructure the team in order to bring him in.

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