Florida Panthers: impact that Maxim Mamin can have down the road
While the Florida Panthers look to strengthen themselves on the wing, they must not forget about Mamin who they recently signed.
On June 1st, the Panthers signed their (2016) 6th round draft pick Maxim Mamin to a two-year entry-level deal. The deal was to give the Cats some flexibility on the wing position, while adding depth at the same time.
Fast forward to the Draft and Free Agency, and you’ll see how different this team looks on paper. The Cats have lost 4 wingers since then. Reilly Smith was traded to Vegas, while Marchessault was picked by Vegas in the Expansion Draft. Jagr and the Panthers have both decided to part ways, whereas Vanek just hasn’t been re-signed yet. With those 4 players gone, there will be a lot of holes to fill in.
With that being said, Maxim has a much easier path to making the team then he would have before. The 6’2 Russian native offers a whole lot, when on the ice. His height and strength allows him to drive to the net with ease. He is able to protect/shield the puck while in the offensive zone, retaining valuable possession and creating scoring chances at the same time. On the other hand, Mamin plays with a lot of grit , also known for dropping the gloves when needed.
His “grittiness” will certainly be a characteristic liked among most fans down in South Florida. Maxim isn’t afraid to stick up for his teammates, as seen in the video above. In terms of his offensive production, Mamin tallied 12G, 13A and 25 points in 42 games played last year (KHL). Definitely not a point per game player, but can offer some service.
With the right line mates and proper system, Maxim can easily become a 10-15 goal producer in the NHL. At 22 years of age, he’ll be given some opportunities with the Cats in the next year or two.
The impact that he’ll bring down the road will be his ability to create scoring opportunities, while generating energy/setting the tempo for the forwards up front. It’s also nice to have a guy who can lay a big hit, to change the outcome/pace of the game. Mamin is overall a fun player to have around any team, as he is an individual who can pump the team up with his wild play.
Next: Florida Panthers: Jason Demers possible trade destinations
I personally don’t believe that he’ll make the team this year, but in about a year or two, don’t be surprised if you see Maxim Mamin wearing a Florida Panthers Jersey.