Career
Afanasenkov began his North American ice hockey career after being drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1998 National Hockey League Entry Draft in the third round, 72nd overall. He started playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the Moncton Wildcats in his first season, and then for the Sherbrooke Castors in the 1999–2000 and 2000-2001 seasons. Following the 2000-2001 season, he was signed by the Lightning.
Until the 2003-2004 National Hockey League season, he would split his time between the Lightning and their farm team
He would play for one IHL team (the Detroit Vipers) and two AHL teams (the Grand Rapids Griffins and Springfield Falcons). Following the lockout, he returned to the Lightning, but with the presence of Vincent Lecavalier, Martin Saint Louis, and Brad Richards, he had limited playing time.
He did not put up the numbers he could, and so, on December 30, 2006, the Lightning waived him and he was picked up by the Philadelphia Flyers. While in Philadelphia, Afanasenkov picked up the nickname "The Shark", scoring 15 points (8 goals, 7 assists) in 41 games with the Flyers.
A pending restricted free agent, he was not tendered a qualifying offer and became an unrestricted free agent.
He signed with Dynamo Moscow on August 1, 2007 and signed on 26 September 2009 for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.
