Maxim Afinogenov: Russian Rocket at the Spengler Cup

Spengler Cup participants SKA St. Petersburg have signed NHL star Maxim Afinogenov, forward for Russia, who were runners-up at the World Cup. The 30-year-old has signed a five-year contract in his home country.

10 years in the NHL

After Evgeni Nabokov and Denis Grebeshkov, he is the third NHL player to be signed by SKA St. Petersburg this summer, moving from the NHL to the KHL.

Afinogenov spent nine seasons playing for the Buffalo Sabres, before spending last season with the Atlanta Thrashers, where he scored 24 goals and provided 37 assists in a total of 82 games.

Pargätzi: ''Fast as a rocket''

His NHL CV is very impressive with 158 goals and a total of 395 scorer points in 651 games. A particular highlight will be Afinogenov's appearance in the Spengler Cup in the final week of the year - a feast for both spectators and OC President Fredi Pargätzi: "I am really looking forward to seeing Afinogenov. He is as fast as a rocket, technically brilliant, inventive and has been one of my favorite Sbornaja players for many years now."