Red Wings send Andreas Athanasiou to Oilers for two second-round draft picks

Detroit – Evidently Ken Holland wants to surround himself with some of his former players.

The former Red Wings general manager, and current Edmonton GM, worked out another trade with Wings GM Steve Yzerman Monday before the deadline.

The Wings sent forward Andreas Athanasiou and forward Ryan Kuffner to the Oilers for two second-round draft picks, one in 2020 and one in 2021. The Wings also acquired center Sam Gagner and his expiring contract, which has a $3.2 million salary for 2019-20.

Kuffner, 23, was signed by the Wings as an undrafted college free agent last spring and he had no points in 10 games with the Wings.

This season in Grand Rapids, Kuffner has six goals and three assists in 34 games with the Griffins.

Gagner, 30, is a 5-foot-11, 200-pound left wing who has five goals and seven assists in 36 games this season.

Gagner has 163 goals and 458 points in 838 career games with Edmonton, Arizona, Philadelphia, Columbus and Vancouver. 

More:Live updates on NHL trade deadline day

Gagner is in the final year of a three-year, $9.45 million contract and will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Earlier Monday the Wings traded defenseman Mike Green to Edmonton forward Kyle Brodziak and a conditional draft pick.

Athanasiou, 25, is struggling through a disappointing offensive season with only 10 goals and 14 assists in 46 games – along with an NHL-worst minus-45 rating.

Athanasiou scored 30 goals last season but never lived up to expectations this season.

But Athanasiou has five goals in his last seven games, and with his speed and offensive ability should be a good fit with an explosive Oilers roster.

Along with the moves involving Athanasiou and Green, the Wings claimed forward Dymtro Timashov from Toronto.