What is the current status of Afinogenov for the upcoming season? I am constantly hearing whispers that he might sulk-it-up and play in Russia this season...Any truth to this?
If Afinogenov stays, I think it could be a breakout season for Afinogenov with Satan out of the fold. Afinogenov definitely could move into the role as the Sabre's gamebreaking player. Would definitely be an asset during the shootout as well.
What are your thoughts on his potential role with the team?
I'm still high on the kid.I love his skating,puck handling and i'm not one to think that he needs work on his shot.He just needs a bigger playing role and more quality ice time,which he was never really given in Buffalo before.A big center would definately change things up for him.The only thing I see is that he needs to use his teamates more.That would greatly improve his chances of putting the puck in the net.
What is the current status of Afinogenov for the upcoming season? I am constantly hearing whispers that he might sulk-it-up and play in Russia this season...Any truth to this?
If Afinogenov stays, I think it could be a breakout season for Afinogenov with Satan out of the fold. Afinogenov definitely could move into the role as the Sabre's gamebreaking player. Would definitely be an asset during the shootout as well.
What are your thoughts on his potential role with the team?
I can't see Max not in a Sabres uniform this season. He will have opportunities to get scoring line minutes and we'll just have to see how that works out. I think he'll get 20-25 goals should he get enough ice time.
What is the current status of Afinogenov for the upcoming season? I am constantly hearing whispers that he might sulk-it-up and play in Russia this season...Any truth to this?
It's based on statements made by Afingenov during the lockout. http://www.wgr550.com/fullstory.php?id=0887 New Rules Tested. Afinogenov Threatens To Bolt
Paul Hamilton - Monday, June 6, 2005 - 11:33 PM
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Darcy Regier says there's a possibility that NHL teams will start losing some Russian players. Maxim Afinogenov has stated he's serious about staying home to play hockey. Regier says the Russian leagues are offering serious money and have tax advantages over North America. Although Regier seems worried about losing Afinogenov, he said neither the winger nor Dmitri Kalinin have signed any commitments for next season in their homeland that would stop them from playing with the Sabres if the lockout is settled.
Since that time, Regier has noted that Afinogenov has hired a North American agent which is usually a sign the guy is going to play in the NHL. Max is a talented player, but he's not a star. I don't see much chance that the RSL is going to make an offer that's competitive with the $1.2 million qualifying offer he received from the Sabres. I expect him back next season.
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If Afinogenov stays, I think it could be a breakout season for Afinogenov with Satan out of the fold. Afinogenov definitely could move into the role as the Sabre's gamebreaking player. Would definitely be an asset during the shootout as well.
He gets a ton of great scoring chances but has proven to be a poor finisher. So many opportunities that scoring 20 goals, 50 points would be expected if the rules hadn't changed. He should be good for 25 goals, 60 points with the new rules, and if he can improve his finishing he could be a gamebreaker. I'm not confident that he'll improve as a finisher.
He gets a ton of great scoring chances but has proven to be a poor finisher. So many opportunities that scoring 20 goals, 50 points would be expected if the rules hadn't changed. He should be good for 25 goals, 60 points with the new rules, and if he can improve his finishing he could be a gamebreaker. I'm not confident that he'll improve as a finisher.
max has made negligible progress since he entered the league
i dont expect more than 45 points from him and think he'll bounce between the 2nd and 3rd lines
his passing and finishing aren't good enough to make him a good power play threat
there is no question the skills are there, but he has shown nothing to suggest he is improving his weaknesses, and unfortuately for the star-starved fans of buffalo, lindy ruff is not the right type of coach to help him do that
I disagree about Max's improvement -- I think he's made major strides in a bunch of different aspects of his game. Before the midpoint of last season, I wouldn't have argued the point. From the midpoint on his defensive and physical games started to catch up to his speed game. It was like a switch was flipped in his head, andd he started to 'get' the North American game. I think that if he applies himself to finishing the way he started to apply himself to those other weaknesses, there's no telling what he might do. I was honestly pretty impressed with some of his passing late in the season. If he gets top 6 minutes, I think we'll see a legitimate top 6 game and top 6 points.
I disagree about Max's improvement -- I think he's made major strides in a bunch of different aspects of his game. Before the midpoint of last season, I wouldn't have argued the point. From the midpoint on his defensive and physical games started to catch up to his speed game. It was like a switch was flipped in his head, andd he started to 'get' the North American game. I think that if he applies himself to finishing the way he started to apply himself to those other weaknesses, there's no telling what he might do. I was honestly pretty impressed with some of his passing late in the season. If he gets top 6 minutes, I think we'll see a legitimate top 6 game and top 6 points.
I totally agree. Max has averaged about 13 mins/game in his career, and he has definetly created lots of chances with that type of ice time....its natural that the more ice time he gets the more points he'll rack up. In the past maybe we didn't want Max on the ice in many situations because of his weak play defensively but as we all saw last season, he's gradually erasing that label, and now can be used and trusted in many more situations.
I say with 16-18 mins of ice time per game we could see Max finish the year with 25-35-60 type numbers, with the slight possibility of even more than that.
I agree with signaliinoise, last year I thought Afinogenov was actually one of our better defensive forwards. If he keeps up that play, he's a viable 3rd liner and an agitator/energy guy with a ton of speed. I don't expect him to score more than 50 pts in a season, but he'd be amazing on the 3rd line, IMO.
Also, his passing was a TON better last year. It seemed at times like his passes were too creative that the other players weren't expecting it and couldn't handle them. If he plays with a couple guys that he's on the same page with, I think he could rack up 30 assists a year.
I agree with signaliinoise, last year I thought Afinogenov was actually one of our better defensive forwards. If he keeps up that play, he's a viable 3rd liner and an agitator/energy guy with a ton of speed. I don't expect him to score more than 50 pts in a season, but he'd be amazing on the 3rd line, IMO.
Also, his passing was a TON better last year. It seemed at times like his passes were too creative that the other players weren't expecting it and couldn't handle them. If he plays with a couple guys that he's on the same page with, I think he could rack up 30 assists a year.
Well if he can rack up 30 assists, surely he can total 50+ pts...although he only has 1 20-goal year, u gotta believe that with Miro gone, he'll hit that mark for sure this season. no?
his passing and finishing aren't good enough to make him a good power play threat
I seem to recall Max playing very well on the power play when given the opportunity; specifically, he was very good at creating space with his puck-handling skills.
Afinogenov's career shooting percentage is 9.4. This despite constantly being among the team leader in shots.
What happened during the lockout to make people think he's suddenly going to start being able to finish? I'd understand it if he wasn't getting opportunities but that's not the case. It took him 238 shots to get 21 goals three years ago. He's going to need almost 300 to get 25 goals and he's done nothing to make me think he'll increase his assist totals. What am I missing here?
Afinogenov's career shooting percentage is 9.4. This despite constantly being among the team leader in shots.
What happened during the lockout to make people think he's suddenly going to start being able to finish? I'd understand it if he wasn't getting opportunities but that's not the case. It took him 238 shots to get 21 goals three years ago. He's going to need almost 300 to get 25 goals and he's done nothing to make me think he'll increase his assist totals. What am I missing here?
I think we're more looking at last season, especially after the first couple months. He seemed to not only have his concussion setback behind him but progressed beyond where he was before it. That, to me, is reason enough to hope.
Afinogenov's career shooting percentage is 9.4. This despite constantly being among the team leader in shots.
What happened during the lockout to make people think he's suddenly going to start being able to finish? I'd understand it if he wasn't getting opportunities but that's not the case. It took him 238 shots to get 21 goals three years ago. He's going to need almost 300 to get 25 goals and he's done nothing to make me think he'll increase his assist totals. What am I missing here?
Well, you can't accuse him of not shooting the puck!
30 goals? that's a pretty flimsy limb to go out on, especially with a guarantee added.
how much do you think the game's going to change? how many do you think somebody like iginla will pop in?
I am not basing it on how the game is suppose to "open up", but on he is going to get more ice time and I also think he will just finnally take it to the next level...
I don't think Afinogenov is all of the sudden going to turn into a great finisher, but my point is that last year he started doing alot of little things that he never did before, and there's no reason to think that he won't continue with that this year. I think he'll score 40-50 pts a year and probably no more than 20-25 goals, but he'll be extremely versatile and valuable to the team as a guy who can play on pretty much any line, who has the speed to really create alot of opportunities and odd-man rushes, someone who can play on the 2nd line of both the powerplay and the penalty kill unit, and someone who will stir things up and agitate the other players a bit. That's one thing no one can deny about Max - he's a bit of an agitator and a pest to other players despite not being much of a hitter or anything.
I don't think Afinogenov is all of the sudden going to turn into a great finisher, but my point is that last year he started doing alot of little things that he never did before, and there's no reason to think that he won't continue with that this year. I think he'll score 40-50 pts a year and probably no more than 20-25 goals, but he'll be extremely versatile and valuable to the team as a guy who can play on pretty much any line, who has the speed to really create alot of opportunities and odd-man rushes, someone who can play on the 2nd line of both the powerplay and the penalty kill unit, and someone who will stir things up and agitate the other players a bit. That's one thing no one can deny about Max - he's a bit of an agitator and a pest to other players despite not being much of a hitter or anything.
