Andreas Athanasiou parts Penguins defense on end to end rush (Video)

Andreas Athanasiou looked a bit like Pavel Datsyuk as he parted the Penguins’ defense to give the Red Wings a 4-3 lead. 

The Detroit Red Wings are a franchise stuck in purgatory. They aren’t true contenders, but with their roster, they’re not exactly rebuilding either. This is a tough spot for any franchise to be in.

However, the Red Wings do have some hope for the future, even with Dylan Larkin’s sophomore slump. Andreas Athanasiou has been thriving this season. He has nine goals thanks to a beautiful end-to-end rush against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Red Wings fans can’t deny the young Athanasiou looks a bit like Pavel Datsyuk on this one. His puck handling skills are simply insane. Athanasiou’s top notch speed and skating also helps on this one. The Penguins did not play this rush efficiently, but credit him for making it almost impossible to stop. It looks like the type of play Larkin used to make routinely last season.

If the Red Wings are going to be good anytime soon, they’re going to need more of this from Athanasiou and their young players. Henrik Zetterberg is finally starting to show his age. So is Niklas Kronwall. Frans Nielsen is no spring chicken either.

But even with their questionable roster and aging players on bad contracts, Athanasiou and fellow young forward Anthony Mantha have to give Detroit some hope for a bright future.

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The 22-year-old forward saw less than 10 minutes of ice time per game in 2015-16. However, Athanasiou has seen his playing time increase to 12:30 per game this season, entering Saturday. It’s still not enough, as a player like him should be playing more, especially with the Red Wings all but out of the playoff hunt thanks to the Metropolitan Division.