Since his call up to the Florida Panthers, Maxim Mamin has seen a good amount of playing time so far. Although, how has he fared during his time in the NHL?
At the beginning of the 2017-18 season, it was being speculated that Maxim Mamin could possibly make the team out of training camp. He had been drafted in 2016 by the Panthers and had spent a decent amount time playing in the KHL. As training camp rolled around, there was some buzz around Mamin and the game that he played. Many wondered where he would fit if he made the team.
Ultimately, Mamin did not make the team out of training camp and he began in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds. At the time, it was the right choice for both Mamin and the Panthers. Florida had already put together a lineup that seemed somewhat decent, and by going to the AHL, it gave Mamin a little bit more experience to gain before jumping up into the NHL.
As the season carried on, Maxim was doing very well in the minors. He was putting up points and producing for the Thunderbirds in many different areas. In just 32 games, Mamin had put up 9 goals to go along with 16 assists, while totaling 25 points. It was clear to the Panthers organization that Mamin was thriving in the minors, and it would only be a matter of time before he would get his chance in the NHL.
Near the end of December, the Panthers were headed straight towards the basement of the NHL. They were continuing to fall, and it seemed like they were headed for another boring rest of the season. On January 1st, the Panthers decided to call up Mamin from the AHL and give him a shot with the team. It seemed like the Panthers were already beginning to experiment with prospects as their season continued to slide further and further downhill.
The Cats waited until January 7th to give Mamin his first opportunity to play in the NHL. In a shootout loss, Mamin barely made an impact. He only got to play around nine minutes and took one penalty. The result? The Panthers decided to cut his call up short.
Two wins and four losses later, the Panthers geared up for another game. The season was basically sunk, and the Cats were just going through the motions. So, after waiting 23 days, the Panthers decided this would be a good opportunity to put Mamin back in the lineup. This time, the Panthers got the victory, and Mamin played around 12 minutes. It was in this game where Mamin really showcased his speed and tenacity.
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From there, the Panthers continued to slot Mamin into the lineup, and he continued to bring his fast and energetic play. The Panthers continued to play well, and by February they had gone 5-1-0 since they put Mamin in the lineup. By now, Maxim had played 7 games, but still didn’t have a goal. So, the Cats decided to drop him again. After winning another two games, the Panthers dropped two straight.
The Panthers once again decided to put Mamin back in the lineup in a game against the Washington Capitals, and in that game, Mamin potted his first NHL goal. While this was a highlight he would never forget, this was the start of a streak that would put the Panthers back into serious contention for a playoff spot.
Over the course of the next nine games, the Panthers continued to play Mamin on their third line where he gave his all every shift (in all three zones). While Mamin would only score one more time (it was a very important goal), the Panthers went 8-0-1 over the nine game stretch and in his 16 games the Panthers are 13-1-2.
Now that everybody is healthy again, Mamin finds himself out of the lineup. As the Panthers look to finish their season on streak that eventually gets them to the postseason, they could definitely use Mamin’s game style. Maxim brings a certain energy when his skates hit the ice, and the Cats could benefit from that especially as the schedule gets tougher.
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Maxim Mamin may not be putting up flashy numbers since his arrival with the Panthers, but his energy and consistency is something the Panthers could use as they continue their push to the postseason.