Andreas Athanasiou, who hasn’t played since November 9 due to a groin and hip-related issue, faced numerous doubts during his prolonged recovery. The Blackhawks have felt the absence of his speed and scoring ability. Coach Luke Richardson observed Athanasiou’s return to practice on Tuesday, noting his quick and skilled plays, which highlighted the speed lacking in the team’s game.
Athanasiou’s absence, spanning nearly four months and 47 games, has been significant. He hasn’t played since November 9, coincidentally the last time the Hawks won a road game. While feeling better, he hasn’t set a specific return date due to lingering discomfort, categorizing his status as day-to-day for the upcoming games against the Avalanche and Blue Jackets.
The clarity regarding Athanasiou’s injury came on Tuesday, revealing that a training camp incident led to his injury aggravation on November 9. Despite initially thinking the injury wasn’t severe, a visit to a doctor in December revealed the true extent, leading to a frustrating period marked by uncertainty about his return.
Fortunately, the injury didn’t require surgery, only rest and rehab. Athanasiou resumed skating individually in February but still needs to rebuild confidence in his body. While doctors believe he can go full-out, his comfort level and pain tolerance remain crucial. Athanasiou mentioned that he’s nearly back to full speed and just needs to regain that final burst.
In other injury updates, defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, sidelined since January 16, is recovering from a knee injury and a bone fracture, with a potential return in mid-March. On the other hand, defenseman Connor Murphy’s return from a core soft-tissue injury is progressing slower than expected, with no specific timeline for his return.
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