Maxim Afinogenov

About Maxim Afinogenov

Maxim Sergeyevich Afinogenov (Russian: Максим Сергеевич Афиногенов, Maksim Sergejevič Afinogenov, IPA: [ˈmæk.sim.ə.ˈfin.ə.ˈgɛn.ɑv]; born September 4, 1979 in Moscow, USSR; now Russia) is a professional ice hockey player. Since coming to the NHL, Afinogenov has played for the Buffalo Sabres. In personal life, Maxim currently dates fellow Russian and tennis star Elena Dementieva.

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 then spent 15 games of one season (1999–2000) with their American Hockey League affiliate, the Rochester Americans. Early in the 2002–03 season, he suffered a concussion and only played 35 games. He recorded his first career hat trick on December 31, 2003 at the HSBC Arena. His best season to date was in 2005–06 when he had 22 goals and 73 points. Afinogenov is known as one of the fastest skaters in the NHL.

Afinogenov was on the Russian team which won the bronze medal at Salt Lake City and played for Russia again in 2006, finishing 4th in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Afinogenov again played for HC Dynamo Moscow, and then returned to Buffalo once the NHL resumed play in 2005. He is currently the longest-tenured Sabre, after Martin Biron was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2007.