Artem Anisimov

Artem Alekseevich Anisimov (Russian: Артём Алексеевич Анисимов; born 24 May 1988) is a Russian professional ice hockey centre who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).[1] Anisimov has also previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators. The Rangers originally selected him in the second round, 54th overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft

Artem Anisimov
Anisimov with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013
Born (1988-05-24) 24 May 1988 (age 35)
Yaroslavl, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
PositionForward
ShootsLeft
team
Former teams
Free agent
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
New York Rangers
Columbus Blue Jackets
Chicago Blackhawks
Ottawa Senators
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
National team Russia
NHL draft54th overall, 2006
New York Rangers
Playing career2005–present

Playing career

Anisimov is a product of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey school. He made his semi-professional debut for the organization's junior farm club, Lokomotiv-2, during the 2004–05 season before joining the senior team in the 2005–06 season. At the end of the campaign, Anisimov was drafted in the second round, 54th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers.

Anisimov while with the New York Rangers.

New York Rangers

On 2 August 2007, Anisimov signed his first contract with the Rangers, later joining the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, for the 2008–09 season.

On 23 January 2009, Anisimov was selected to participate in the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic in Worcester, Massachusetts, representing the PlanetUSA team. He scored one goal and assisted on two others, including the game-winner, in a 14–11 PlanetUSA victory over the Canadian All-Stars. On 1 February, Anisimov was called up to the Rangers for the first time in his career after scoring 21 goals and 29 assists for 50 points with the Wolf Pack. He made his NHL debut on 3 February against the Atlanta Thrashers at Madison Square Garden.[2]

Anisimov scored his first career NHL goal on 11 October 2009, during the 2009–10 season against goaltender Jean-Sébastien Giguère of the Anaheim Ducks in a 3–0 Rangers victory.[3]

On 8 July 2011, Anisimov, a restricted free agent, re-signed with the Rangers on a two-year, $3.75 million contract.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Just one season into his contract, Anisimov, along with Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon and a first-round draft pick in 2013 (19th overall, used to select Kerby Rychel), were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Rick Nash, Steven Delisle and a 2013 conditional third-round pick.[4]

On 26 June 2013, Anisimov signed a three-year contract extension with the Blue Jackets at an annual average value of $3.28 million.[5]

Chicago Blackhawks

On 30 June 2015, Anisimov, along with Jeremy Morin, Marko Daňo and Corey Tropp, were traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Brandon Saad, Alex Broadhurst and Michael Paliotta.[6] The next day, on 1 July, Anisimov agreed to a five-year, $22.75 million contract extension with Chicago. His existing contract was set to expire after the 2015–16 season.[7]

On 9 October 2015, Anisimov scored the first goal in the first regular season game at Barclays Center against Thomas Greiss of the New York Islanders. The Blackhawks would win 3–2 in overtime. In his first year with the Blackhawks, he produced 20 goals and 22 assists as the Blackhawks lost in Game 7 of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs to the St. Louis Blues.

On 15 November 2017, Anisimov scored his first NHL hat-trick in a 6–3 win over the New York Rangers.[8]

Ottawa Senators

After four seasons with the Blackhawks, Anisimov was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Zack Smith on 16 July 2019.[9] Anisimov posted 15 goals and 5 assists in his first season with Ottawa.[10]

Anisimov struggled to stay healthy during the 2020–21 season and was placed on waivers after registering only four points in 14 games for the Senators on 29 March 2021.[11] Unclaimed, Anisimov remained on the team and on 24 April, Anisimov suited up as an emergency goalie during a game against the Vancouver Canucks but did not play.[12] He finished the season posting 9 points through 19 games.

Later years

As a free agent after two seasons with the Senators, Anisimov remained un-signed over the summer leading into the 2021–22 season. On 9 September 2021, he accepted an invitation to attend the Colorado Avalanche 2021 training camp on a professional try-out contract.[13] Following training camp and featuring in pre-season games with the contending Avalanche, Anisimov was released without a contract from Colorado on 8 October 2021.[14]

Returning to his native Russia, Anisimov linked up with his original hometown club, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL, for the remainder of the season on 20 October 2021.[15] As an alternate captain, Anisimov was leaned upon offensively and responded with 8 goals and 19 points through 27 regular season games. He added 3 points in 4 post-season games before Lokomotiv were eliminated in the first-round at the hands of eventual champions CSKA Moscow.

As a free agent and with ambitions to return to the NHL, Anisimov for a second consecutive season accepted a professional tryout contract by joining the Philadelphia Flyers 2022 training camp and pre-season.[16] In suffering an injury through training camp, Anisimov remained within the organization to start the 2022–23 season and after returning to health was later signed to a PTO with AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, on 15 November 2022.[17] Anisimov tallied 4 points through his first 6 appearances with the Phantoms and on 10 December 2022 was signed to a AHL contract for the remainder of the season.[18]

As a free agent, Anisimov opted to extend his professional career by returning to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL during the 2023–24 season on 2 January 2024. He made 18 appearances with the Wolf Pack, registering 1 goal and 4 points, before he was released from his professional tryout on 20 February 2024.[19]

Personal life

Anisimov and his wife Ksenia have three children: a daughter, Adriana and 2 sons, Artemiy and Aleksander.[20]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2004–05Lokomotiv–2 YaroslavlRUS.32435810
2005–06Lokomotiv YaroslavlRSL100114
2005–06Lokomotiv–2 YaroslavlRUS.33215122728
2006–07Lokomotiv YaroslavlRSL3928102673254
2006–07Lokomotiv–2 YaroslavlRUS.322020
2007–08Hartford Wolf PackAHL741627433051012
2008–09Hartford Wolf PackAHL803744815062020
2008–09New York RangersNHL1000010000
2009–10New York RangersNHL8212162832
2010–11New York RangersNHL821826442051010
2011–12New York RangersNHL79162036342037104
2012–13Lokomotiv YaroslavlKHL3612172934
2012–13Columbus Blue JacketsNHL351171812
2013–14Columbus Blue JacketsNHL812217392061234
2014–15Columbus Blue JacketsNHL52720278
2015–16Chicago BlackhawksNHL772022421273032
2016–17Chicago BlackhawksNHL642223453040000
2017–18Chicago BlackhawksNHL7220113122
2018–19Chicago BlackhawksNHL7815223714
2019–20Ottawa SenatorsNHL49155208
2020–21Ottawa SenatorsNHL192792
2021–22Lokomotiv YaroslavlKHL2781119841232
2022–23Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL55191736231120
2023–24Hartford Wolf PackAHL181346
NHL totals77118019637621443891710
KHL totals632028483041232

International

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Russia
World Championships
2014 Belarus
2010 Germany
2015 Czech Republic
2019 Slovakia
World Junior Championships
2007 Sweden
2008 Czech Republic
YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2006RussiaWJC185th63252
2007RussiaWJC 62134
2008RussiaWJC 71346
2010RussiaWC 91236
2013RussiaWC6th80116
2014RussiaOG5th50002
2014RussiaWC 101342
2015RussiaWC 101344
2016RussiaWCH4th40112
2018RussiaWC6th83580
2019RussiaWC 104264
Junior totals19661212
Senior totals6410172726

References

External links