(Another in a series of player profiles prior to training camp.)

Andreas Athanasiou

Position: Right wing/left wing

Age: 24

Height/Weight: 6-2/188

2017-18 stats: 71 games, 16 goals, 17 assists, 33 points, minus-15 rating, 16 penalty minutes.

Career stats: 172 games, 43 goals, 33 assists, 76 points, minus-21 rating, 49 penalty minutes.

Contract: Two years at a $3 million cap hit. Will be a restricted free agent when deal expires.

2017-18 in review: Missed training camp and the first 10 games of the season due to a contract impasse. ... Tied for third in goals and tied for sixth in points on the team. ... Fifth in shots on goal (170). ... Team-worst minus-15. ... Tied NHL record for quickest regular season overtime goal Jan. 3 vs. Ottawa (six seconds). ... Equaled career highs in goals (two) and points (three) Nov. 15 vs. Calgary. ... Registered back-to-back multi-point games Jan. 14-16. ... Did not convert on first career penalty shot Jan. 3 vs. Ottawa's Craig Anderson. ... Game-winning goals Jan. 3 vs. Ottawa and March 29 vs. Buffalo. ... Season-high eight shots on goals Dec. 29 vs. Rangers and April 7 vs. Islanders. ... Season-high 21:41 Dec. 31 vs. Pittsburgh. ... Team-worst face-off percentage (41.6 percent, 106-of-255). ... Missed one game due to illness (Feb. 15 at Tampa Bay).

2018-19 outlook: Will the enigmatic Athanasiou, after signing a two-year, $6 million deal in the offseason, be more engaged and compete harder on a consistent basis? He continues to show flashes of brilliance with his elite speed, one-on-one moves and finishing ability, but disappears for long stretches too often.

The inconsistency has resulted in Athanasiou's name being floated in trade rumors. If the Red Wings were to trade him, it won't likely be for a draft pick, they'd likely want a player who could step into their lineup, preferably a defenseman.

But their preference is for Athanasiou to play up to his potential by being one of their top offensive threats.

With Henrik Zetterberg possibly headed to long-term injured reserve, the club might opt to use Athanasiou in the third-line center spot.

Quotable: "I think I can compete at a high level. I think I can compete in playoffs. I kind of showed that the last time we were in the playoffs when I got in that Tampa series. I think competing at a high level is very important. There's a lot of times where the stage is big here and you have to compete on that level, and I think I do a really good job of competing on the big stage and at the highest level."

Key question: Will Andreas Athanasiou maximize his potential with a breakout season, or will he be a trade chip?