Andreas Athanasiou

Andreas Athanasiou led all Red Wings in shooting percentage (17 percent).

(AP file photo)

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

Andreas Athanasiou

Position: Right wing/center

Age: 22

Height/Weight: 6-2/200

2015-16 stats: 37 games, nine goals, five assists, 14 points, plus-1 rating, five penalty minutes; (playoffs) five games, one goals, no assists, one point, plus-1 rating, no penalty minutes.

Career stats: Same.

Contract status: One year remaining on entry-level deal at a cap hit of $628,333. He'll be a restricted free agent in 2017.

2015-16 in review: Promoted from Grand Rapids on Nov. 7 and played six games in Detroit from Nov. 8-18. ... First NHL goal came in 1-0 victory over Washington on Nov. 10. ... Recalled on Feb. 5 and played every remaining game for Red Wings (31 in regular season, five in playoffs). ... Scored two goals in Dallas on Feb. 29. ... Scored one of team's two shorthanded goals on the season on April 6 vs. Philadelphia. ... Led team in shooting percentage (17 percent). ... Scored first career playoff goal in Game 3 vs. Tampa Bay. ... Average ice time of 9:01 was last on club among players on the roster at the end of the regular season. ... Averaged 30 seconds per game on penalty kill. ... Won 53-of-129 faceoffs (41.1 percent). ... Had no minor penalties in 42 regular season and playoff games combined. ... Lone penalty was a fighting major on March 8 (vs. Columbus' Matt Calvert). ... Appeared in 26 regular season games (eight goals, eight assists) and six playoff games (two goals, three assists) for Grand Rapids.

2016-17 outlook: Athanasiou's blazing speed is a tremendous asset. It puts defensemen on their heels, especially in one-on-one situations, leading to scoring opportunities.

His ice time was limited, particularly in the third period, for reasons coach Jeff Blashill declined to specify. But Athanasiou maximized his ice time by making an impact. He led the team in shooting percentage and needs to get more pucks on net (which will come with more minutes). He is a secondary option on the penalty kill.

Athanasiou proved he deserves to be in the lineup, but the Red Wings, with a crowded roster, still have the option of sending him to Grand Rapids without waivers.

Key question: Will Athanasiou get more ice time this season?