Why not Maxim Afinogenov?
by Scuderi_Kick_Save on Jul 30, 2010 3:52 AM EDT
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So if the Pens were to get a winger in free agency I don't see why it wouldn't be Maxim Afinogenov. I'm a fan of the fact that he's a little wreckless and dangerous with his play. He can be inconsistant, but I think the spark he could bring to our agressive style would be a plus by far...that is if he doesn't go to the KHL first.
Him and Geno could get on a common ground. Plus, I think that Stalkin, and Maxim would be a pretty good line 2(that's if we didn't want to put him on Sid's line).
Thoughts?
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He’s definitely one of my three favorites for the position (The others being Selanne and Kariya).
But, as I commented in “leftover forwards we could potentially chase?”, I fear he’ll want more money than we’re able to pay him.
He’s finally had a good season again, so, considering his previous paycheck was rather puny, I’d imagine he’d want to cash in on his recent success.
Scratch Selanne...
He’s already said, multiple times, only way he is coming back is if the Ducks are going to be contenders. Don’t consider him, he’s not even a thought.
by Wags24 on Jul 30, 2010 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions
He could help the Pens at the right price, but it’s hard to say which Afinogenov we’ll get: The one that scored six goals in 2008-09 and was often a healthy scratch or the one that scored 24 last season.
Which leaves the LARGE question...
You have a BIG time point right here. You just never know which guy will show up which leaves one LARGE question on the table. Would you rather try to spend some decent cash on this guy that you are not sure of? Or give your young guys a shot who deserve it!??
Tough one that is for sure. At least Maxim has proven that he can put up points. If he did that in Atlanta last year, imagine what he could, potentially, do with Malkin or Crosby.
by Wags24 on Jul 30, 2010 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions
He’s my top choice, too, as Sid’s RW, to add the speed needed to beat the trapping, cented-focused defenses. He is a defensive liability, but Kunitz and Sid are good defensively, and the Dmen are better densively, so many that is offset a bit. I’ve read that the Pens have been in contact with his agent, but I’m sure they are looking for more than the $1M the Pens could offer. Atlanta only offered him a 1 year contract, which he rejected, and while I don’t know what the salary was you have to think it was far more than $1M. He’s supposed to be friends with Geno, and played on his line on the Russian Olympic team and, I think, at the world championships. The KHL is supposed to be a possibility (as it always is with a Russian player), but he’s been in the US for 9 years now and didn’t go there last year when there was virtually no NHL interest in him, so that might just be agent smoke. I suspect Shero just continues to exercise patience here as the market is coming to him, and while I think it unlikely that he’ll be available, the chances increase with each day that passes and another forward position is filled by someone.
Shero does get things done
That’s a good point that Shero isn’t really in a hurry to fill a winger spot leading into the season (especially with all the competition coming from the AHL). He definitely addressed the main issue with the D, and it’s not like we haven’t had success in the past without a really marquee winger to compliment Sid or Geno. I think it comes down to as a hockey fan I like Maxim when he’s on his game and would like to see him in the Black n Vegas Gold.
by Scuderi_Kick_Save on Jul 30, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Totally off-topic, but
I read your bio. Interesting that you’re in Phoenix trying to get back East and I’m on the East Coast hoping to get back to Phoenix :-) I think about the only thing I’d miss is going to games in Pittsburgh. Anyway, welcome to the board!
by PensAreYourDaddy on Aug 1, 2010 3:12 AM EDT up reply actions
It's ran it's course
I’ve been out here coming up on 5 years now and I’m about over it. It’s not bad out here I’d just prefer getting back to somewhere that actually has trees, grass, and even maybe a season change now and again.
I’m just happy that the Pens will be out here Nov. 6th. I’ve been so mad over the past two seasons Phoenix has gone to the Burgh for their one friggin’ game of the year.
by Scuderi_Kick_Save on Aug 3, 2010 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions
What worries me about Afinogenov is he already took a low money, one-year contract to set himself up for a nice contract this season. And while he had his finest seasons in years in Atlanta, there obviously hasn’t been a ton of interest.
He seems like a player that could get a multi-year and multi-million dollar contract in the KHL. Not sure a one year, about $1 million deal from Pittsburgh stacks up too well for that.
But, then again, KHL’s training has already begun, so that Afinogenov didn’t jump there in early July shows that maybe he would still prefer the NHL. Who knows what’s going through his mind.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
From what I heard hes looking for $3 million plus a year on a 3 or 4 year deal. That would be a little out of the Pens range. However if september rolls around and hes still available he will have to come down on the price, at that point maybe a 1 year deal could get done. I know he took a 1 year deal last year, but for guys like him, Torres, Stempniak, youd think more of them would want to take a 1 year deal to come play with Sid or Geno at a lower price. They would most likely put up some great numbers and their value would be higher after this season. True its a huge risk taking a 1 year deal but like the Artie said “playing with guys like Sid and Malkin will make you a millionaire pretty quick.”
by genomachine-O on Jul 30, 2010 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
$3 million plus a year on a 3 or 4 year deal.
That’s pretty ridiculous. No wonder no team is budging.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
“playing with guys like Sid and Malkin will make you a millionaire pretty quick.”
Is that why Sykora, Satan, Guerin and Fedotenko are on NHL rosters today?
Taking a one year deal for less money presupposes the player to have a good season and not get injured. That can be a big risk.
And if a player remains unsigned this late in the summer, it’s usually because there’s a flaw in their playing ability/style or attitude that may make it tougher to have a good season.
I agree Pittsburgh ought to make a good place to play for forwards, but all terms have to make sense to all parties.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
Painful..
Hey, that’s not fair…Guerin should not be included on that list because he’s what, 38?
Sykora, no excuses for that guy.
Tanker, again, nothing.
Satan, I think we jumped the gun on dropping him too early. I would have rather kept him as opposed to Tanker…especially with how he performed in Boston in a short amount of time.
by Wags24 on Jul 30, 2010 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Satan wasn’t worth much. Fedotenko had 7 goals in the post 09 season and Satan had only 1. Fedotenko wasn’t amazing but he would score an important goal here and there (which was more than Satan was doing).
Plus satan was signed for 3.5 million dollar that year (HAHAH!) Imagine Shero aproaching his agent at the
by lampshade9909 on Jul 30, 2010 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
silly touch pad….
Plus satan was signed for 3.5 million dollar that year (HAHAH!) Imagine Shero approaching his agent at the end of the season saying “Oh by the way, you suck, you made 3.5 mil last year but I’m making you an offer of 700K this year because you are just that bad… so are you resigning??”
by lampshade9909 on Jul 30, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
And if a player remains unsigned this late in the summer, it’s usually because there’s a flaw in their playing ability/style or attitude
in Afino’s case:
he doesn’t backcheck or make any attempt to play defense, he takes off more shifts than he’s on—even on offense—ie, he’s lazy.
Buffalo released him and considered him “addition by subtraction”
Atlanta just did what some are some are suggesting the Penguins do now — sign him to a 1-yr, low-ish cost contract, and hope he exceeds his average year.
Afino had one of his very best years for ATL and they did NOT make a strong effort to re-sign him.
WTF would the Penguins want him?
Afinogenov scored 28 goals and 61 points last season. That’s a career high for any current Penguin winger (other than Malkin).
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
I don’t know, but look at Atlanta’s track record, it’s not like they make the best personnel decisions.
ATL not wanting to retain Afinogenov doesn’t put a stain on him, to me. It seemed like he was focused during the season and he helped them on the ice. That’s all I care about.
I think the Thrashers did try to re-sign him around July 1, maybe it was just window shopping, but I believe they had interest. But now that they made the trades with Chicago I think they’re trying to get younger anyways.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
ATL offered him a 1-year deal that his agent said was “far” from what they were looking for
The Thrashers may not have a great track record, but they DO know Afino as a player better than any other organization in the NHL at this time
To me the first part of your post rings loudest.
ATL is, as usual, trying to keep costs low so they probably offered him something very similar to the 1 yr, $800k deal he signed last season.
Afinogenov took his low money contract last year to redeem himself and now is trying to get more money. And just because free agency’s a month old doesn’t mean he can’t/won’t be able to find money: look at Andy Sutton’s $2.25 million a year that he got on Aug 2nd.
I think ATL not being able to make a play for MA is more about their budgeting strategy and less an indictment on his play. And for them, they have 6 top 6 forwards in Antropov, Kane, Ladd, Byfuglien, Peverley and Little, so it isn’t as if they absolutely need him.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
every team has budgetary constraints, but its not as if ATL isn’t signing players they deem worthy:
Byfuglien @ $3.00M/year
Ladd @ $2.35M/year
Brashear @ $1.40M/year
Eager and Rissmiller at right around $1.00M/year each
Oduya @ $3.50M/year (in the Kovy trade)
and
they took on Sopel’s inflated $2.33M/year contract
in an extremely low budget goalie market they also:
added C Mason @ $3.7M over 2 years
and they re-signed Pavelec at $2.3M over 2 years
and they will re-sign Bergfors
clearly, if they believe the player warrants it, they will spend the money to retain their services
Granted. They have to hit the cap somehow.
Afinogenov probably wants like $2+ million on a multi-year deal. Because Atlanta finds this unreasonable though, is that a commentary on what they think of him as a player?
I don’t think so.
Obviously it says something — i.e. “we’re not bending over backwards to keep you” but I don’t think that means they think he’s trash or didn’t play well for them.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
a deal at or less than $1.00M/year MIGHT be palatable
but he’s a slacker
and that’s one thing the Pens do NOT need — at any price, really
its not like their problem is scoring goals
As I’ve alluded to, I think if he was willing to take $1 million or so, he would have already signed, most likely in Atlanta.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
so…are you recommending that the Pens take all their (realistically) available cap space to sign Afino? sounds like you think it will take at least $1.5M — possibly on a multi-year deal.
given that we’re getting down to just flotsam and jetsam…
its possible that a guy like Afino is the “BPA” in that price range.
i’m not sold on “the enigmatic Russian” though
he tailed off considerably last year after a hot Oct/Nov
and his prior TWO seasons in Buffalo he scored a TOTAL of 16 goals
that’s 8 goals per year
if the Pens signed him for, say, $1.6M (he’s not getting $2M+ —>> at least not from PIT)
that’s $200,000 per goal
if we wanted to pay that kind of money, we could have kept Fedostinko
(11 goals for $1.8M)
and he played defense (sometimes)
You make good points. Afinogenov did have 5 goals and 15 points in 22 post Olympic games, so it’s not as if he went totally cold.
I wouldn’t want to give him more than a one-year deal, but if it took giving 2 years to getting him for like $1.2 million or so per year, I’d so it.
Problem is I don’t think he would be interested.
So yeah, you’re probably right he’s not worth what little cap space the Pens have left, but I do think Afinogenov is one of the few realistic options in the UFA market to score 30 goals, 70 points if he played with the Pens.
Which I think you have to consider — put him on a line with someone like Kunitz or Dupuis who play D well. Pittsburgh doesn’t have any pure scoring natural wingers. That’s what Afinogenov is.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
2yr/$1.2 million each year works for me! Where do I sign?
Alternately, a 1yr/1.6 million contract would work for me as well.
c'mon fellas
i’m coming around
(Hooks is persuasive)
but only on a ONE year deal
2 years…
that’s too great a risk, imo
Hooks — good point on the upside and filling a need (pure goal-scorer). also a good point re: what is left on the market — flotsam and jetsam, mostly.
If the Pens did somehow sign him, I would be disappointed, but I’d understand.
Although a productive Top 6 wing would be nice, we ALL want one! its not like scoring goals was a problem for the Penguins last year or the year before or the year before that. The problem—at least last year—was on defense, and, as you seem to acknowledge
put him on a line with someone like Kunitz or Dupuis who play D well, he’s a defensive liability.
Sykora, Satan, Guerin and Fedotenko are all in the twilights of their careers. Sykora was terrific his first year playing here with Geno. Guerin had a pretty solid run here as well. Fedotenko and Satan both suck…not much explaining needed there. At this point I would say they are all just plain, not good hockey players. Im pretty sure Geno had a big part in Bugsy getting paid what he got paid. Sid will probably have a big hand in Dupuis getting a raise on his next deal as well.
by genomachine-O on Aug 2, 2010 6:38 AM EDT up reply actions
All of this is true, but I was just making the example that simply playing with Malkin or Crosby doesn’t make someone a star and doesn’t guarantee 30 goals (or even 20 goals). The winger still has to play well and produce. Some have like Malone, but others have not.
Some people (just a generalization, not pointing anyone out) seem to think that play with Crosby, you’re automatically going to have a great year and get a huge contract. That hasn’t really worked for anyone but Hossa, who doesn’t really count since he was one of the best wingers anyways.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
nothing is a given that is for sure. But it doesnt seem like the chance to play with Sid or Geno has really attracted any wingers to come here. I understand that I’m sure a lot of the top tier wingers in the league would love to play with one of them, but the Pens havent been looking for a top tier wing. I was just saying if I’m Torres or Afinogenov one of those guys, I’m doing everything I can to get in a pens uniform for next year. Now whether its the Pens not looking to sign any of those guys, or they just dont want to take a real short term deal to play here remains to be seen.
by genomachine-O on Aug 3, 2010 7:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think Hossa gets enough credit from most fans for how good he actually is. Monster goal-scorer and he could make a case as best defensive wing in hockey right now if Lehtinen weren’t still ridiculous.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Aug 4, 2010 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Given our cap situation and the available options, I’d be happy to add Afinogenov. He has decent skill and blazing speed, and our upgrades on D make me less anxious about his defensive shortcomings. And there is the chance of striking chemistry gold with the guy: he’d have no trouble keeping up with either Sid or Geno, and he’s never had a chance to play regularly with a first-rate play-making center.
That said, he’s a frustrating player to have on your team. I posted on the earlier thread that he reminds me in ways of Alex Kovalev (though not as gifted as AK, obviously): one week he’s wowing you with his skill and production, another week he’s so invisible you’re wondering if he’s been scratched.
P is for Latrobe.
Just throwing Tim Kennedy out there
I promise this isn’t an ongoing thing with ex-Saber players, but if we would decide to go outside of in house for a winger what’s everyone’s thoughts on Tim Kennedy?
$1 Mil for 1 year was his result at arbitration
Last Season:
10-G
16-A
-3
Plus he’s only 24.
Personally I don’t think we’ll make a move on a winger anytime soon, and if we did it would be at the trade deadline not now.
by Scuderi_Kick_Save on Aug 4, 2010 2:43 PM EDT reply actions
I don’t think he’s got the skill to stick on the top 6 and he’s definitely not as good as guys like Rupp and Adams are in bottom 6 roles.
Pass on T. Kennedy. Well the one that isn’t on the roster, anyways.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
Could you imagine if they were on the same line?
Actually I think Steigy would mess up more announcing the games if they were on separate lines. Twice the chance to botch it
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
I rather liked what I saw from him in last season’s games against Buffalo, but I’m not convinced he’s top 6 material, he seems like a 3rd line guy to me.
Besides, it’d be too confusing having another T. Kennedy on the team. It was bad enough trying to figure out who was who when he was playing for the other team!
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