Maxim Afinogenov

Maxim Sergeyevich Afinogenov (, ; born September 4, 1979) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player. Known for his skating speed, As a youth, he played in the 1993 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a team from Moscow.

He married Russian former professional tennis player, Elena Dementieva on July 16, 2011. His sister Katia Afinogenov married retired Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Las Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals and HC Ambrì-Piotta left winger Max Pacioretty one week later.

Playing career

Buffalo Sabres (1999–2009) 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. However, that same day, while playing a pickup game in Moscow, he took a puck to the head, suffering a concussion. He finished the season bouncing back from his previous concussion-riddled season with 17 goals and 31 points.

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. In the playoffs, he scored the game-winning goal in Game 5 of the Sabres' second-round series against the Rangers in overtime. He scored five goals and four assists in 15 games as the Sabres advanced to the Conference Finals, where they lost to the Ottawa Senators in five games. His production tailed off in 2007–08, however, managing just 28 points in the same number of games as the previous season.

Atlanta Thrashers (2009–2010) Following the 2008–09 season, in which he was sidelined once more with a groin injury, 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 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.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs 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 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