George Richards, FHN Publisher
With Anton Lundell out with an injury, Maxim Mamin found his way back into the Florida Panthers lineup Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
After not playing in the past four games — partially due to his team’s forward depth, but perhaps also because of his contractual status — Mamin spent part of his time back up on the top line with Sasha Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe.
Mamin did what was asked of him, playing 11:10 off 15 shifts and ending with the primary assist on Verhaeghe’s goal in the third period.
The goal was started when Mamin took the puck away from Jake Guentzel along the boards then got it to Verhaeghe who was already heading up the ice.
”We are kind of blessed with as many good players as we have,” said Andrew Brunette, who had to juggle things with Lundell out.
“Mams, to come in and play at that level was pretty remarkable considering the time he missed. We know what he can do. There is a little issue of consistency but these are nights where you’re like ‘wow.’ Hopefully he can follow that up.”
But how many more chances will Mamin get in the near future?
It is complicated.
As it stands right now, Mamin could be sent to the minors without being subjugated to waivers.
But, if he plays in four more games with the Panthers, he could be lost for nothing if Florida needed to make a roster move.
With the NHL Trade Deadline coming, the Panthers need to have roster flexibility.
Mamin, right now, may prove more valuable to his team by not playing.
Mamin was originally drafted by the Panthers in the sixth round of the 2016 draft and spent parts of two seasons with Florida from 2017-18.
In 2018, the Panthers sent him to their AHL team in Springfield and he enacted his contractual out and went home to Moscow to play for CSKA in the KHL.
Mamin returned to Florida this season and has been a very valuable part of the team throughout the year.
”He has been awesome,” Verhaeghe said. “He has been working very hard. He had not played in a couple of games, comes right in and contributes right away. He is a big body, plays hard and makes plays. We have really good chemistry together and it’s nice to see him jump in and make an impact.”
He has played on just about every line save for the second and Mamin has five goals and 10 points in 26 games — and has also played in seven games for Charlotte.
Although his play was not as strong in December and January when he was averaging over 13 minutes a game, the game limitation and Florida’s future roster maneuverings more than likely kept him out of the lineup.
Mamin, out for seven games with an injury from Jan. 27-Feb. 20, only played 10:40 in the loss to Columbus.
Had Lundell not been hurt Monday, he almost certainly would have been scratched for a fifth consecutive game Tuesday.
Moving forward, it is not know whether he will play Thursday against the Flyers even though he certainly earned another game.
And, with four games left before the point of no-waivers return, it wouldn’t hurt to give him another shot Thursday.
Florida currently is carrying 22 players and is expected to activate Joe Thornton off IR at any time.
With the Panthers going to California this weekend, Thornton is almost certainly going be back in the lineup by next week with with Florida visiting San Jose on Tuesday night.
That would leave Mamin back on the scratch list — at least until the trade deadline comes on March 21.
Brunette has said due to Florida’s depth at forward, some players are going to have to be unselfish when it comes to the betterment the team.
Mamin being out of the lineup to save a roster spot which may be needed come deadline certainly falls into that category.
”We have have so many players who can come in and we have talked about this many a time,” Brunette said. “It’s a luxury to have but it’s difficult to keep everyone happy. There is some selflessness which has gone on and hopefully will continue.”