Afanasyev, 19 (1/23/01), signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Predators on Oct. 19, 2019 and went on to tie for the lead in points on the OHL's Windsor Spitfires with 67 (31g-36a) in 62 games. He led the Spitfires in goals with 31 and was a key contributor on the power play, tallying a team-high 22 points (10g-12a) on the man-advantage. In addition to rattling off a 12-game point streak midway through the season, the 6-foot-4 forward recorded 18 multi-point performances and was second on Windsor in assists (36).
Originally drafted by the Predators in the second round (45th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, the Tver, Russia, native participated in his country's U-20 camp in August. Afanasyev will be making his professional hockey debut with CSKA Moscow; before joining the Spitfires in 2019-20, he spent two seasons with the USHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks from 2017-19.
