Oilers pick up Andreas Athanasiou, prospect from last-place Red Wings
Oilers general manager Ken Holland, who spent 36 years in Detroit, added a second Red Wings player to the Edmonton lineup in less than 24 hours on Monday.
Forward Andreas Athanasiou, who has had a poor offensive season with 10 goals for the NHL's last-place team, is on his way to the Oilers along with forward prospect Ryan Kuffner for veteran forward Sam Gagner, a 2020 second-round draft pick and 2021 second-rounder.
The 25-year-old Athanasiou from Woodbridge, Ont., whom Holland drafted 110th overall in 2012, has 24 points and a NHL-worst minus-45 rating in 46 games. Five of his 10 goals have come in the last seven outings.
Athanasiou, who was scratched for Sunday's 4-2 loss to the visiting Calgary Flames, is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1, He has 83 goals and 154 points in 294 NHL regular-season contests.
"He's got great speed, he's got high-end skill," said Ken Holland of Athanasiou when speaking with reporters in Anaheim, Calif. "He's a talented player ... we're hoping that his best years are ahead of him."
Edmonton will retain 10 per cent of Gagner's $3.15-million US salary. The 30-year-old can become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The 33-22-7 Oilers are second in the Pacific Division with 73 points, three back of the Vegas Golden Knights for first, but also just three points up on the Arizona Coyotes for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
Detroit (15-45-4), which is in full rebuild mode, became the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention before the trade deadline since the 2003-04 Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
Gagner had five goals and 12 points in 36 games with the Oilers this season.
Kuffner, 23, has zero points in 10 career NHL appearances.
Red Wings first-year GM Steve Yzerman moved veteran defenceman Mike Green to Edmonton on Sunday for retired forward Kyle Brodziak and a conditional draft pick in either 2020 or 2021. Detroit also retained 50 per cent of Green's salary.
Ennis adds forward depth
In another move Monday, Edmonton shipped a fifth-round pick in 2021 to Ottawa for winger Tyler Ennis.
Ennis, who's also set to become a UFA on July 1, had 14 goals and 33 points in 61 games with Ottawa this season.
The 30-year-old from Edmonton has registered 131 goals and 309 points in 604 NHL regular-season contests.
The 26th overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres in 2008 also has three goals and 10 points in 19 playoff games.
Later, the Oilers sent defenceman Joel Persson to Anaheim for goaltender Angus Redmond and a conditional 2022 seventh-round pick.
