Maxim Afinogenov
Concussions were ultimately responsible for shortening Afinogenov’s career. But he still managed nine solid seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, mainly playing on the lower lines. He finished 18th for the Calder during a rookie campaign that saw him score 34 points, 16 goals, and 18 assists in 65 games.
His best scoring seasons didn’t come until those exciting deep playoff runs of the mid-2000s. In 2005-06, while the Sabres were busy shocking the NHL universe, Afinogenov did his part with 73 points, 22 goals, and 51 assists in 77 games. He put up 61 points in an encore performance in 2006-07, with 61 points, 23 goals, and 38 assists in 56 games.
Afinogenov spent most of his career in Buffalo as a no-frills player apart from his solid rookie campaign and excellent seasons when winning was the norm in the Queen City. He played for one season in Atlanta, scoring 61 points in 82 games, before retiring.
Overall, you can make several lists of forgotten Buffalo Sabres. But the five names listed above stand out more than the rest. So who is on your list of forgotten Sabres? Let me know who you got in the comments.
Article Source: Top 10 Most Underrated Buffalo Sabres of All-Time by Chris Owen
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)