Numbers are fun to look at. Whether or not they mean anything is questionable. When looking at players who come into the last couple years of their contracts with the Sabres, namely those with great potential, there is a growing trend in what you'll find.
Lets take a look:
- Chris Drury: 77 games, 37 goals, 32 assists, 69 points (career best)
- Daniel Briere: 81 games, 32 goals, 63 assists, 95 points (NHL career best)
- Michael Peca: (2nd to last year) 82 games, 27 goals, 29 assists, 56 points (NHL career best)
- Miroslav Satan: (2nd to last year) 79 games, 26 goals, 49 assists, 75 points (career best)
- Stu Barnes: (2nd to last year) 17 goals, 31 assists, 48 goals (career best while with one team)
There's a mild trend here, but not necessarily a formula. But, the point I'm driving home with these figures is whether or not we can expect anything big from Maxim Afinogenov in this coming season.
- B/R Ticket Guide
This is the final year on his contract and various rumors swirled about him being moved in a trade.
But is it fair to compare him to these recent former Sabres phenoms? It really varies on who you ask. He's not a leader-player as much as an individual puck pusher, but his style is in line with the new blend of what the NHL is as opposed to what was.
Clutch and grab has almost completely left the scene, and the speedy and talented are stealing the show. I believe he fits that trend.
Maybe it's a bit of personal bias, but I like the exciting play style of Afinogenov. Just listen to the Sabres home crowd when he touches the puck and puts on the jets. If he truly wants to continue to play for the Sabres, this is his year to shine and prove it. The last two players, Drury and Briere, may not be a fair comparison into any type of trend.
If you exclude them from the reasoning, then like Peca, Satan, and Barnes, Afinogenov should be coming off his best year.
With the groin injury sustained this past season, he hasn't had much strength and time to prove himself. Averaging a half a point a game in the 2007-08 season, 10 goals and 18 assists on the whole, it's a big step down from the season prior. With playing the equal amount of games for 23 goals, 38 assists, he banked a little over a point a game!
The overall message is this. Afinogenov needs to put up a big point season and inspire the new youth on the team becoming their play-maker. If this doesn't take place, it may result in no renewed contract offer and the next plane out to play for a team in Russia for big money.
What will it be, Max?
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2 months ago
Good old Max. I don't think, regardless of the numbers he puts up, he'll be a Sabre after this year. I hope like heck he puts HUGE numbers up, and they trade him. I know he's exciting. I know he's fast. But for crying out loud, Max, take a shot. Sure, we get excited when he touches the puck, but it usually ends in a groan of disappointment because he didn't take the shot!!
Here's the thing - if he performs well, he's going to command a lot of money; money I feel the Sabres would be better off spending on younger talent (like Pommers - they should have signed him by now, damnit). If he doesn't do well, then we aren't going to get anything for him. You can't sign an underachiever, you typically can't trade them for anything good, so you let them go, and someone picks him up for nothing.
So, in an ideal world, he'll score 40+ goals, and we'll trade him at the deadline (much to the chargrin of all the Sabres fans who've suddenly become all Pro-Max). They'll talk about what a terrible trade it was; they never should have let him go, Regier can't make good decisions, blah, blah, blah. But in the end, the Sabres will be better for it (provided they pick up some REAL talent for him).
Good article; counting the days till the puck drops for real!
from 2 months ago
Isn't that how it's supposed to work? Campbell had a remarkable year, then at the trade deadline the Sabres cash in on...Steve Bernier? Granted, the youth is what Buffalo does best with when it comes to young talent, but Bernier was not the right fit for a talented defenseman like Brian Campbell. There was no comparison at all between the two. Then, the critics slammed the management on just throwing away Campbell. The same may become true of Max. He may have that break out year up to the trade deadline, then a couple youngens will shuffle off to Buffalo. Will it be worth it? Well, looking at the way things have been working out for the Sabres in events as such, it may end up being a three-peat. If this is the case, third time's a charm, and the Regier/Quinn era may end.
But, that's a ways off and just mere 'crystal ball' theorization. Time will only tell the end result in yet another saga of GM Theater.
from 2 months ago
I guess if you look at it, we actually got Rivet for Campbell, since they traded away Bernier for Rivet.
I'm not a huge Campbell fan. I thought he was overrated. And the whole whining, crying deal before he was traded was pathetic. You can't sit there and cry about how bad you want to stay in Buffalo, and not come up with an agreement. It's total BS. I don't know what they were offering him, but I'm sure it was enough to live on. Seriously. The whole "I need to be the highest paid whatever" is total crap. (see, now you've got me ranting).
As for Regier/Quinn, there is no denying they screwed up big time with Drury/Briere. Personally, I'm glad Briere is gone - again not a favorite of mine; but I wish like heck they would have signed Drury. He's a much better two way player and his fit in Buffalo was perfect, I thought. I think they've learned from that; coupled with Campbell. They need to lock these guys up early. I'm so glad they locked up Miller; we won't have to deal with that off-ice drama all year. They need to get Pommers, and then I'll be happy (honest, I am happy sometimes, and I do like most of the guys on the team LOL )
Let's hope they get off to the good start they need, and keep it up. The cup needs to be lifted in Buffalo - by SABRES!!!
from 2 months ago
I agree on the whole hypocratic argument that they want to stay but won't come to terms on a deal. Though it's not disclosed most of the time what the offer terms were, but you can assume it's plenty for the player to live comfortably off of. The ego machine kicks in, they leave the team, and then end up as mediocre players on an okay team. Campbell may just be the only one that landed on a team that is going to get the most value from a player in a rebounding team. The Rangers were already set up quite well systematically and Drury was just a mere addition to the lineup in terms of leadership. Briere in Philadelphia, his plus/minus was far from impressive and he underperformed most of the season. Campbell has potential in Chicago, for sure, with a young and revitalized squad.
I do believe in your reasoning on Rivet. Team relations usually work in your favor in the long run when making inquires on players of interest and since the Sabres dealt Campbell to the Sharks, they weren't bashful in brokering a deal in the off-season.
Hopefully Rivet is the turnaround guy for the Sabres' defense because in my honest opinion, that is the only area on the team (aside from management) that needs any improvement to make this team dangerous again.
2 months ago
I'm hoping we see the usual Max this year. Bad seasons happen to a lotta players. Look at Joffrey Lupul's year in Edmonton, then last year he played great for Philly.
from 2 months ago
A rebounding Max could spell out trouble for any opponent of the Sabres. They certainly could have used him in the middle portion of the season last year during the winless drought. Vanek simply carried the offensive load during that time, and with Lindy Ruff's reasoning with the line combos, if Max was "productive Max" then the Sabres would have been in better shape. Lets hope he has the Lupul effect minus the moving to another team aspect because he can turn heads if he lands a spot on another club and becomes deadly again.
2 months ago
Many players often perform well in a contract year because of the money that is on the line. However, I think Afinogenov is not going to be able to perform like he used to
from 2 months ago
Although he isn't the young sparky player he used to be in his earlier days with the Sabres, turn around time in a player's career doesn't happen overnight. He is a bit off on the trend of increasing productivity over time through experience, but many players have off years and have strong finishes. He will either fit that category or like I said before, he may end up on the next flight to Russia to play a little K hockey for big bucks in the KHL. Examples of this can be seen in, oh let us say...Alexei Yashin?
2 months ago
Max needs to go. The guy will always be a "what if.." case. Let another team wonder.
from 2 months ago
His numbers are too low to bother trading him now. Giving Max a chance to turn things around will be proven in the first half of the first half of the season. If nothing comes of him and it looks like he won't garnish any value by the trade deadline, then the Sabres should place him on waivers and bring up Kennedy or Gerbe. Gerbe is fresh off a red hot finish with Boston College. If you look at the Sabres' roster and prospects listing, the talent is there and can easily step up to fill Max's spot. The Buffalo News even had an article quoting Ruff as stating that Max isn't safe in terms of making the roster. It could be a challenge for him, but it will come down not only to what he proves in training camp, but as I said, the first half of the first half of the season.
2 months ago
You nailed it, Rant - The success or failure of this Sabres' season may be directly dependent on how M.A. responds/performs. There's a lot of pressure on him now and, after a season where he was actually benched a couple of times, you have to wonder what will happen.
Should be interesting. And I still have full faith in Lindy.
from 2 months ago
It's a kink in the chain type theory whereas when one player on a team doesn't play up to their potential, the rest of the connectors feel it and break apart into individuals. I wouldn't go so far to say whether or not his impact will be crucial considering the talent waiting for roster spots behind him, but point well taken in understanding the situation as a completing the offense full-circle. The defense is my primary concern with the Buffalo squad, but things may not be as bad as initially thought especially with the return of an aged, but talented, Teppo Numminen. Adding to his experience and leadership qualities on the blue-line, his being joined with Craig Rivet may bring the Sabres' defense up quite a few pegs compared to last year. 22nd in goals allowed cannot always be laid upon the shoulders of the goaltending of Miller completely, but the lack of strong stay at home defensemen has hurt the team. Rivet and Numminen are perfect for the Sabres. I think that dropping Kalinin was a great move, as well. His lack of passionate dedication and grit showed and Lindy exploited it, but it became a recurring problem. Also, he was a bit slower than most of the defenders when it came to backchecking. Afinogenov is a small problem to the team, but he's a bigger problem to himself overall. He knows he can perform better, but it's a matter of staying healthy, focused, and inspired. It's his time to either shine, or fade out and become a distant memory of an era of Sabres' history being put to rest (being the longest staying player on the roster).
2 months ago
The amount of games he has played isn't an argument of whether or not you can expect much of him. 2000-01, he missed four games, 2001-02, he missed one game. You're right, he hasn't played a full 82, but I wouldn't say it amounts to anything. If you want to make that connection, then he's had his best season in 2006-07 where he had 61pts in 56 games. Points averaged per game looks more important. I understand you can't bank on a hit and miss player. If you want to pose these arguments, then you can repeat everything said in this forum about Tim Connolly. As a matter of fact, you can REPLACE the name 'Max' and place 'Tim' in its place. Funny enough, it's the same banter! Why aren't people bringing his name up?
And yes, Vanek is exciting, young, and productive. I do enjoy watching him, and last season, he was almost the king of power play goals!
2 months ago
the most you can expect from this guy is 25 goals. and evan thats a long shot, he's 29 years old and has not improved nor even played a full NHL season. I think he might end up in KHL anyways
from 2 months ago
This seems to be the growing overall opinion.
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