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AFINOGENOV WILL HAVE SURGERY |
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Lindy Ruff just broke the news that Max Afinogenov's hand injury, sustained in last night's OT win against Edmonton, will require surgery.
"Max will see the doctor early this afternoon. and right now it looks like he'll have surgery on his hand. Surgery brings you down to that "best case scenario" of six weeks. Lindy confirmed that he had no idea last night that Max will be seeing the surgeon to correct the damage.
"At best case scenario probably six weeks. Abosolutely best case scenario", Ruff said.
Max was at the Amhesrt Pepsi Centre, with his left hand heavily bandaged. He obviously did not participate in the morning practice with his teammates.
I saw Max, and he declined to comment on his jacked up paw.
He'll see the orthopoedic doctor shorty.
Drew Stafford and Clarke MacArthur were at practice, and both will be along for a long term ride with the Sabres.
Both men were recalled last night.
Funny story:
" Clarke and I were watching the Sabres game together, and wen we saw Max and Novo leave with injuries we looked at each other. Not too long later, both of us got calls-- separate calls to pack it up and get to Buffalo".
Stafford skated with Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek.
MacArthur rode shotgun on the Drury line this morning, however, do not read too much into that.
Adam Mair and Andrew Peters were given the day off and the Sabres only rolled three lines this morning. Mair took three stitches to close a gash and was excused from practice. While Peters was nursing a minor ailment. Toni Lydman also missed the skate, as he injured himself blocking a shot last night.
"No big deal, I'm ok", Lydman told me, as he left the rink.
Lindy was exceptionally upbeat when facing the media after practice.
Do all of these untimely injuries affect the way he'll coach this team moving forward?
"It really doesn't change my mindset. Right now, Drew Stafford and Clarke MacArthur are VERY good players. As a team, we proved that our depth was important, and I happen to think that both of them can step in now and play very well. I don't have a doubt in my mind that both will step in and play very well for us !".
Lindy remains positive and philosophical about his team's fortunes moving forward to the real season.
"Like I said last night, we don't need anynore injuries. But we still have some good players, and I think that Stafford and MacArthir, once they get up and running, are gonna prove that they are good players.
How does Lindy view his team, a week after the losses of Goose, Spacek, Max, and Novo?
" Obviously, we're a bit younger, still real good speed. Stafford is a big kid, and a very strong kid. a lot bigger and stronger than you may think. He can go through people. MacArthur is blessed with great hands, very creative. If you scout our team, you'd say that lacking a little bit of experience, but I think in terms of enthusiasm and creativeness, we're as good as we were last week".
Lindy refused to default to the negative when sizing up the present tense of his young, fast Sabres squad's chances.
" You look around and there are a lot of cases in point where teams lose key players, and they are better at times. You get a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of excitement when you get an opportunity to play. I think you're gonna see a lot of enthusiam and a lot of excitement because they (Stafford and Macarthur) are looking at being here an extended period of time. That gets any young player excited ! It gives them the opportunity to prove, hey, "I'm the player you're looking for" .
What excatly will it mean for Max to be lst to his line mates, Vanek and Roy?
" Obviously, that has been a key line for us. A very creative line. At the same time, I think if we put Drew Stafford up there we may be losing a bit in the speed department, but we don't lose a lot in goal scoring and creativity. He's a very creative players and he's a very good goal scorer, and he has good speed. Its not like... he doesn't have Max's speed--- NOBODY does... you can't replace Max's speed, but he has very good hands and is a very good goal scorer."
The Sabres have options of the fourth line and Lindy plans on exploring all possibilities.
" Our fourth line is looking like Adam Mair centering, at the same time, we can use Jochen Hecht or Ales Kotalik there. Those options are ther, and its something inpractice that I will get both of those guys some time at centre."
As for MacArthur?
" Right now, we haven't made up our mind. But he could get some time with Mair and Peters... you could put him with Drury and Al...we're gonna take a look at both scenarios".
Lindy paused and cracked is tradmark smile and said....
" I'm excited about pushing forward. I'm really looking forward to it.
Look for MacArthur to join Paille, Drury and Hecht as Penalty Killers.
MacArthur is an above average skater and killer, and he will be asked to make plays 5 on 5, and while killing.
Look for Drew Stafford to jump onto the Sabres Power Play unit.
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With all this talk of Max's injury, what becomes of Jiri Novotny?
" There's no time table for Jiri. Jiri's got that ankle sprain that the hockey world and football world,sometimes is worse than breaking your ankle. When it starts felling better, we'll get him back going."
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"We still have a lot of great players. We have a good D. We have good goaltenders.. we're a little young up front, but I'm excited about watching these guys play".
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