Maxim Afinogenov

Maxim Sergeyevich Afinogenov born September 4, 1979 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union) is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently an unrestricted free agent. In 2008-2009 he was playing for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is known for his skating speed and is currently the longest-tenured Sabre, having played for the club since his rookie campaign in 1999–00.

Playing career
Maxim Afinogenov was a forward for HC Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Hockey Super League 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 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 2-year, $2.4 million contract on September 4, 2002. However, that same day, while playing a pickup game in in Moscow, he took a puck to the head, suffering a concussion. 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 the HSBC Arena in a 7–1 win against the Washington Capitals. 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 HC 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 semi-finals, where they were defeated in seven games by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, Afinogenov added 8 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.

International play
Played for Russia in:


 * 1998 World Junior Championships (silver medal)
 * 1999 World Championships
 * 2000 World Championships
 * 2002 Winter Olympics (bronze medal)
 * 2004 World Cup of Hockey
 * 2006 Winter Olympics
 * 2008 World Championships (gold medal)