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Maxim Afinogenov

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Maxim Afinogenov
Afinogenov with Dynamo Moscow in 2009
Born (1979-09-04) September 4, 1979 (age 45)
Moscow, Russian SFSR,
Soviet Union
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Left
Played for Dynamo Moscow
Buffalo Sabres
Atlanta Thrashers
SKA St. Petersburg
Vityaz Podolsk
National team  Russia
NHL draft 69th overall, 1997
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 1995–2020

Maxim Sergeyevich Afinogenov (Макси́м Серге́евич Афиноге́нов, IPA: [mɐkˈsʲim sʲɪrˈɡejɪvʲɪtɕ ɐfʲɪnɐˈɡʲenəf]; born September 4, 1979) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player. Known for his skating speed,[1] he was drafted by the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Buffalo Sabres in the third round, 69th overall, in 1997 and played nine seasons with the club. He then played one season with the Atlanta Thrashers before signing and finishing his career in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Personal life

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Afinogenov was first introduced to hockey by his dad when he was five years old.[2] As a youth, he played in the 1993 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a team from Moscow.[3]

He married Russian former professional tennis player, Elena Dementieva on July 16, 2011.[4] His sister Katia Afinogenov married current Washington Capitals left winger Max Pacioretty one week later.[5]

Playing career

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Medal record
Representing  Russia
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2008 Canada
Silver medal – second place 2002 Sweden
Silver medal – second place 2010 Germany
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Austria
Winter Olympics
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Salt Lake City
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1999 Canada
Silver medal – second place 1998 Helsinki

Buffalo Sabres

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Afinogenov was a forward for Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Superleague (RSL) for four seasons. He was drafted 69th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and played his rookie NHL season in 1999–2000, scoring 34 points in 65 games, while also playing in 15 games with the Sabres' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. Following his third season with the Sabres, a 21-goal, 40-point campaign in 2001–02, Afinogenov re-signed with a two-year, $2.4 million contract on September 4, 2002.[1] However, that same day, while playing a pickup game in Moscow, he took a puck to the head, suffering a concussion.[1] He was limited to just 35 games in the subsequent season, managing just 11 points. The next season, in 2003–04, he recorded his first career hat-trick on December 31, 2003, at HSBC Arena in a 7–1 win against the Washington Capitals.[6] He finished the season bouncing back from his previous concussion-riddled season with 17 goals and 31 points.

Afinogenov during a game in 2006.

After spending the 2004–05 season back in Russia with Dynamo Moscow due to the NHL lockout, Afinogenov recorded his best season to date when NHL play resumed in 2005–06 with personal bests of 51 assists and 73 points. As the Sabres embarked on a playoff run to the Conference Finals, where they were defeated in seven games by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. Afinogenov added eight points in 18 post-season games. He continued his scoring pace the following season in 2006–07 and, despite missing 26 games, scored 61 points and a career-high 23 goals. During the season, Sabres backup goalie Martin Biron was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers at the trade deadline in February 2007, making Afinogenov the longest-serving Sabre on the roster. His production tailed off in 2007–08, however, managing just 28 points in the same number of games as the previous season.

Atlanta Thrashers

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Following the 2008–09 season, in which he was sidelined once more with a groin injury,[7] Afinogenov became an unrestricted free agent and was not re-signed by the Sabres. He left the club as the longest-serving Sabre on the previous season's roster, having played for the club since his rookie season in 1999–2000. On September 17, 2009, the Atlanta Thrashers invited Afinogenov to their 2009–10 training camp on a tryout.[7] and on September 29, 2009, he signed a one-year contract with the team worth $800,000. He scored his first goal as a Thrasher on October 17, 2009, against the Buffalo Sabres. He finished the season finishing second on the team in points, behind only Nik Antropov.

KHL

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Following the 2009–10 season, Afinogenov signed a five-year deal with SKA Saint Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) as a free agent. After a productive first season with St. Petersburg, Afinogenov was plagued by injury in the following two seasons. He was traded to Podolsk-based HC Vityaz prior to the 2013–14 season and was announced as the team's captain.[8]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1995–96 Dynamo–2 Moscow RUS-2 34 23 9 32 30
1995–96 Dynamo Moscow IHL 1 0 0 0 0
1996–97 Dynamo Moscow RSL 29 6 5 11 10 4 0 2 2 0
1997–98 Dynamo Moscow RSL 35 10 5 15 53
1998–99 Dynamo Moscow RSL 38 8 13 21 24 16 10 6 16 14
1998–99 Dynamo–2 Moscow RUS-2 1 1 2 3 2
1999–00 Rochester Americans AHL 15 6 12 18 8 8 3 1 4 4
1999–00 Buffalo Sabres NHL 65 16 18 34 41 5 0 1 1 2
2000–01 Buffalo Sabres NHL 78 14 22 36 40 11 2 3 5 4
2001–02 Buffalo Sabres NHL 81 21 19 40 69
2002–03 Buffalo Sabres NHL 35 5 6 11 21
2003–04 Buffalo Sabres NHL 73 17 14 31 57
2004–05 Dynamo Moscow RSL 36 13 14 27 91 10 4 4 8 8
2005–06 Buffalo Sabres NHL 77 22 51 73 84 18 3 5 8 10
2006–07 Buffalo Sabres NHL 56 23 38 61 66 15 5 4 9 6
2007–08 Buffalo Sabres NHL 56 10 18 28 42
2008–09 Buffalo Sabres NHL 48 6 14 20 20
2009–10 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 82 24 37 61 46
2010–11 SKA St. Petersburg KHL 51 13 20 33 50 11 4 1 5 10
2011–12 SKA St. Petersburg KHL 23 4 8 12 36 12 3 1 4 4
2012–13 SKA St. Petersburg KHL 26 4 4 8 4 13 1 3 4 6
2013–14 Vityaz Podolsk KHL 53 12 14 26 69
2014–15 Vityaz Podolsk KHL 54 17 10 27 124
2015–16 Vityaz Podolsk KHL 56 15 13 28 34
2016–17 Vityaz Podolsk KHL 58 20 27 47 44 4 0 2 2 6
2017–18 Vityaz Podolsk KHL 47 16 20 36 25
2018–19 Dynamo Moscow KHL 10 4 1 5 10
2019–20 Dynamo Moscow KHL 37 8 2 10 34 2 1 0 1 0
KHL totals 415 113 119 232 459 42 9 7 16 26
NHL totals 651 158 237 395 486 49 10 13 23 22

International

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Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1996 Russia EJC 5 1 1 2 0
1997 Russia EJC 6 4 3 7 18
1998 Russia WJC 7 3 2 5 4
1999 Russia WJC 7 3 5 8 0
1999 Russia WC 6 2 1 3 2
2000 Russia WC 6 1 0 1 4
2002 Russia OLY 6 2 2 4 4
2002 Russia WC 9 3 0 3 6
2004 Russia WC 5 1 1 2 4
2004 Russia WCH 4 0 1 1 2
2005 Russia WC 9 3 2 5 6
2006 Russia OLY 8 1 0 1 10
2008 Russia WC 8 5 1 6 2
2010 Russia OLY 4 1 1 2 0
2010 Russia WC 9 3 4 7 18
2011 Russia WC 9 1 2 3 6
Junior totals 25 11 11 22 22
Senior totals 83 23 15 38 64

References

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  1. ^ a b c "25 – Buffalo Sabres". Sports Illustrated. October 3, 2005. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
  2. ^ "Afinogenov Q&A". NHL.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2010.
  3. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  4. ^ Андрей Дедов. (July 17, 2011). "Чемпион мира и героиня Олимпиады женились на крыше". Life News Online. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  5. ^ "Max Pacioretty Wedding Photos". yourcanadiens.com. July 2, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  6. ^ "Rare double hat trick pace Sabres". CBC. January 1, 2004. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Free agent Maxim Afinogenov could find new home with Atlanta Thrashers". ESPN. September 18, 2009. Archived from the original on September 30, 2009. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  8. ^ "Afinogneov, Rybin and Iggulden joins Vityaz". kenros.com. August 2, 2013. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
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