After serving the Blue-and-Gold as a healthy scratch for two games, he returned to the lineup on November 26th against a heavy division rival, the Boston Bruins. The question is whether the return of the speedy right winger was meant to spark a choking offense, or to advertise his speed to potential scouts and suitors.
Maxim has been an enigma throughout his career playing for the Buffalo Sabres. He has been a mute companion to his teammates and to the media. He’s sustained mysterious, unexplained concussions in Russia. While rushing up the ice, he often finds himself alone and lost in his own unexplainable play making, having left his own teammates far behind in a twisting trail of snowy debris.
He all but disappeared mathematically from the 23 goal pace that he set during the 06-07 campaign, a mark he set in a total of only 56 games. Since then, he had only 10 goals in 56 games in 07-08. He only has 1 goal and 7 assists throughout 18 games so far this season, and is abysmal defensively, posting a minus 18. For Max, nothing is finding the net anymore, well, except for his net gains. He is making a blazing 3.5 million dollars this season, in this, the last year of his contract.
If he is not traded, or re-signed, he could easily go to another team in free agency. Some desperate team will see what he has done in the past, and hope that he will return to form. A perfect case study involves fellow right winger Michael Ryder, and their noted rival, the Boston Bruins. Playing for the Canadiens, Ryder rode the red light 30 times in the 06-07 campaign, but only 14 times in 07-08. The Bruins risked 4 million dollars this season on Ryder when they picked him up as a free agent, “banking” solely on his performance in 06-07. But, it turns out that it is the “bank” where his impact is being felt in Boston this season: Ryder has only 3 goals in 21 games.
With this history lesson, it may be very unlikely that Max could be signed for more than he is making now. His performance has continued to decline each year - while on a speedy offensive team - and at 29, he and his enigmatic legs are not getting any younger.
It is also very unlikely that he will could be traded for a return of value, but that is certainly a hope of the Sabres' faithful. If Sabres GM Darcy Reiger dusts off his quill and actually signs a very rare mid-season trade, it is difficult to envision the Sabres finding anything more than a 6th round draft choice in return.
Still, a 6th rounder is better than nothing: the best player for Buffalo of late has been Mark Mancari, who was recently called up from Buffalo’s AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates. The organization selected Mancari in the 7th round in '04.
But Mark represents the prime reason why it is time for Reiger to deal Max: it is time to cut the expensive dead weight and make room for the rest of the up and coming youth. There is a Pirate’s treasure trove of NHL-ready players in Portland. To name just two: Nathan Gerbe 21 years old, is quick as lightning and has a reputation in front of the net as a quick finisher, with 12 goals and 22 points in only 16 games. Western New York native Tim Kennedy is 22 years old and has 21 points in the same span. Either of these two could lace up in Maxim’s place: the 23 year old Mancari had 23 points when he got the call.
Meanwhile, Afinogenov is not helping himself or his team if he watches from the press box. After hearing about his new status as a healthy scratch, Afinogenov kept himself mute and shut off from reporters, but the Buffalo News did get word from him after this morning’s skate. "I'm not happy at all," he said, "It's definitely bad. I want to be there, especially at home in front of fans. They give me special spark, and I'm not happy not being in the lineup." Rare words for desperate times? The speediest winger in Buffalo seems to be inexplicably moving just as quickly away from his successes of the past.
It is likely too late, anyway, if the 30-goal Max or the 1-goal Max shows up in the coming weeks. The Sabres need to find consistency, and has too much talent waiting in Maine. But for at least until the March 4 trade deadline, fans at the HSBC Arena in downtown Buffalo will be able to marvel at his vapor-trail drives to the ends of the rink, as the puck and his teammates do their best to keep up. Right now, the Sabres are fighting for playoff positioning and can’t afford to pay 3.5 million dollars for ice capades.
Whichever Max shows up for Buffalo will certainly entertain. But whether he will score a goal, and be able to continue to do so, will remain a mystery. How he lost himself on a team full of speed and talent will always remain a mystery. The color of the jersey on his back tomorrow is a mystery. Come trade or not, whatever is going on in his head will remain muted behind a Russian veil - an enigma to the end.
Scott Michalak - Scott Michalak was born in Buffalo, New York, and has since traveled and lived in places such as England, Belgium, Australia, and around ...
