Maxim Afinogenov to Sign With KHL

by Adam GretzFiled under: Thrashers, NHL Free Agency, Russian HockeyAfter one of the best seasons of his NHL career, Maxim Afinogenov has decided to take his game to the KHL, reportedly signing a five-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg as reported by Dmitry Chesnokov. Coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, Afinogenov signed what was essentially a one-year tryout contract with the Atlanta Thrashers prior to the 2009-10 season, and went on to score a career-high 24 goals, finishing the campaign with 73 points, the second-highest mark of his 10-year career. His totals during this past season were better than his previous two seasons ... combined. Even though his career has been a model of inconsistency, he was one of the best forwards available in a thin crop of free agents, so it's a pretty big score for the KHL. It's also been an extremely productive offseason for SKA when it comes to landing established NHL players, as the club previousl...