Datsyuk to stay in Russia next year...

[Chadd 916]

In terms of Antripov this guy in my opinion is a boardline NHL'r. I mean if he didn't play in Toronto most people wouldn't have a clue who he is. If both were on  a good team Afinaganov would still be a player you can insert in situations when you need a goal I don't think Antripov has or will ever have the skill needed to become a successful NHL'r

The only problem I have with that comment is the results. Afinogenov just doesn't produce. Not yet anyways. He scores some highlight reel goals, but other than that, he's pretty invisible. Reminds me of an old Toronto guy by the name of Converey in that respect. I think Antropov is a big ugly skater which people love to knock on him, where Afinogenov is small and quick, which right now from a fan standpoint, people love. Seem to be putting up similar numbers and similar results though.

Antropov obviously has less talent than Afinogenov but gets similar results. Is Nik overperforming or is Maxim underperforming?

[OTHockey96 0]

It's basically just opinion, but watching Afinogenov in the world cup and world championships I'd agree with everbody that something is missing. Other than that I agree with ESPN's Bill Clement's comment that if he could just finish on all of his rushes and chances, he'd easily be a 40-50 goal guy. I'm not kidding either, the guy had sooo many nice moves and chances, but I've only see him finish once,and that was in a shootout.

[QandA 0]

Antropov obviously has less talent than Afinogenov but gets similar results. Is Nik overperforming or is Maxim underperforming?

Nik overperforming. Look at where he was drafted, theirs a handful of guys who are/going to have better careers than him. Domi should get his friggin' ice time, and Antropov should be in the "A."

[kevinbelt 0]

imo, datsyuk is the future of the nhl, not just the wings. i think he's one of the top players in the league already, and he's just going to get better. huge loss if he doesn't come back. i'm not sure i believe it, though. we've heard a few of these, and aleksey morozov's agent came out and straight up denied it. so take it w/ a grain of salt.

as for afinogenov, he's a guy that fans come to see. he may not put up huge numbers or anything, but if i'm a buffalo fan, he's a big reason why i'd buy tickets. "star" might not be the right word, but he's an attraction for sure.

-k

[Eazy_b97 1]

Antropov obviously has less talent than Afinogenov but gets similar results. Is Nik overperforming or is Maxim underperforming?

But then the question becomes what is talent? Afiniganov has more speed/acceleration, but I honestly don't think he has bettere hands (moves or touch) the problem with Antro's hands is he has to make 3 or 4 nice moves to get the room Afi can with 1 or 2. But Antro's ability to find open ice and create room with his size and stength are much better than Afi's IMO... so is speed thought of a talent when Ice vision, grit and strength are not?

--> I think both are underperformers, but Antro is performing more to the status of what people have come to expect because of his lack of speed.

QA - He was drafted in the top 15 overall (11th I believe), so there was fairly high expectations.

[Chadd 916]

Antropov obviously has less talent than Afinogenov but gets similar results. Is Nik overperforming or is Maxim underperforming?

But then the question becomes what is talent? Afiniganov has more speed/acceleration, but I honestly don't think he has bettere hands (moves or touch) the problem with Antro's hands is he has to make 3 or 4 nice moves to get the room Afi can with 1 or 2. But Antro's ability to find open ice and create room with his size and stength are much better than Afi's IMO... so is speed thought of a talent when Ice vision, grit and strength are not?

--> I think both are underperformers, but Antro is performing more to the status of what people have come to expect because of his lack of speed.

QA - He was drafted in the top 15 overall (11th I believe), so there was fairly high expectations.

Antropov's best asset is his size and he rarely uses it to his advantage. Afinogenov seems to have better moves in open ice from what I've seen but can rarely put the puck in the back of the net.

[Adam91 0]

In terms of Antripov this guy in my opinion is a boardline NHL'r. I mean if he didn't play in Toronto most people wouldn't have a clue who he is. If both were on  a good team Afinaganov would still be a player you can insert in situations when you need a goal I don't think Antripov has or will ever have the skill needed to become a successful NHL'r

The only problem I have with that comment is the results. Afinogenov just doesn't produce. Not yet anyways. He scores some highlight reel goals, but other than that, he's pretty invisible. Reminds me of an old Toronto guy by the name of Converey in that respect. I think Antropov is a big ugly skater which people love to knock on him, where Afinogenov is small and quick, which right now from a fan standpoint, people love. Seem to be putting up similar numbers and similar results though.

Antropov obviously has less talent than Afinogenov but gets similar results. Is Nik overperforming or is Maxim underperforming?

I think Maxim is definitily under performing the guy has all the skills needed to become a very good player in the NHL except for maybe heart

[$-Money9 0]

Afinaganov is underperforming. He should be one of their top best forwards. I'm not saying points are everything but a defenseman like Dmitri Kalinin shouldn't be getting more points then him.

[EBondo 233]

I'm not saying points are everything but a defenseman like Dmitri Kalinin shouldn't be getting more points then him.

Tarnstrom led his team (pens) in scoring last year

[QandA 0]

I think his point is that a guy that we have never heard of, is doing better than a guys like Afinoganov.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Antropov has a better vision IMO than afino...I think that's the problem with afino, his lack of vision

And please don't tell me it's the heart that's not there. If he has those skills, it's because he got the heart/passion to practice them.

[kosydar 0]

I've never heard anyone say so many nice things about Antropov before. I think he sucks, and thats coming from a die hard Leaf fan.

[OTHockey96 0]

Just one question, I agree that for some reason, these guys are underperformers and aren't stars, at least not yet, but did afino have lots of injuries last year, or did he really produce less points in the same amount of time that he had put up earlier in his career? I also think that afino's problem is his speed, he doesn't know how to use it. Few guys can finish at that speed, he needs to slow down and take his time when he's shooting, instead of just blasting it at the net.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Kosy - I think I am the only guy left in the GTA that has any warm feelings for the man.

OTHockey96 - His numbers seem to always be floating around the 35- 40 pt region.

[kosydar 0]

Its not that I completely hate the guy, he was just so misused by Quinn last season that I'm still bitter. On a roster as deep as the Leaf's, there is no reason why he should be on the second line.

[Chadd 916]

Its not that I completely hate the guy, he was just so misused by Quinn last season that I'm still bitter. On a roster as deep as the Leaf's, there is no reason why he should be on the second line.

Bingo, he's a third line guy who you don't really want killing penalties. He could be useful in front of the net on the PP but they don't use that style of powerplay.

[QandA 0]

I've never heard anyone say so many nice things about Antropov before. I think he sucks, and thats coming from a die hard Leaf fan.

Oh, I'm a die hard fan, and I find him to be pretty useless. He's a first rounder, that's about the only reason I think he's on the team. Put Stajan in his place...