The Chicago Blackhawks' injury woes have piled up this season with several players missing extended stints. Forward Andreas Athanasiou, who's been sidelined for three months with a groin injury, finally resumed skating on Saturday.
The speedy winger last played on Nov. 9 when he exited early from a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Before going on injured reserve, he posted four assists in 11 games.
Updates were hard to come by for the next few months until head coach Luke Richardson announced on Jan. 15 that Athanasiou underwent surgery "a little while back." Richardson said last week that the Ontario native would start skating "soon," which finally came to fruition on Saturday.
Athanasiou previously dealt with groin issues while he was a member of the Los Angeles Kings. For a forward whose game is predicated on speed, another flare-up is certainly concerning. However, his return to the ice is a positive step toward providing a boost to a Blackhawks team that has been starved for offense.
The Blackhawks haven't provided a return timeline for Athanasiou. Stay tuned to On Tap Sports Net for further updates as they become available.
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