Artem Anisimov

Lore & Background

Anisimov began his career in Russia with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, making his semi-professional debut with the junior farm club Lokomotiv-2 in 2004–05 and joining the senior team in 2005–06. After being drafted by the New York Rangers in 2006, he signed his first NHL contract in August 2007 and spent two seasons with the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, before making his NHL debut on 3 February 2009 against the Atlanta Thrashers. He recorded his first NHL goal on 11 October 2009 against goaltender Jean-Sébastien Giguère of the Anaheim Ducks. During the 2010–11 season, centering a line with Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky, he set career highs in goals (18), assists (26), and points (44).

In July 2012, Anisimov was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of a deal that sent Rick Nash to the Rangers. During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, he returned to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL, recording 12 goals and 29 points in 36 games. He signed a three-year contract extension with Columbus in June 2013 and posted a career-high 22 goals in the 2013–14 season. Injuries limited his 2014–15 season, including a concussion and a torn triceps muscle. On 30 June 2015, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in a deal involving Brandon Saad, and the next day agreed to a five-year, $22.75 million contract extension. He scored his first goal as a Blackhawk on 9 October 2015 against the New York Islanders, and later recorded a four-point game on 6 February 2016 against the Dallas Stars while playing on a line with Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin.

Reader's Guide

Anisimov's significance lies in his consistent NHL career as a reliable two-way centre who played key roles on multiple teams, particularly during his tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks where he centered a productive line with Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin. His international career with Russia was distinguished, earning seven medals including gold at one tournament, three silvers, and two bronzes across Olympic Games, World Cup of Hockey, world championships, and world junior championships. His trade history reflects his value as a versatile player: he was a central piece in the blockbuster Rick Nash trade from the Rangers to Columbus, and later part of the deal that sent Brandon Saad to Columbus while bringing Anisimov to Chicago. Despite injury setbacks, including a concussion and torn triceps in 2014–15, he achieved career highs in goals (22) and points (44) during his time with Columbus and New York respectively. His ability to adapt to different linemates and systems across four NHL organizations underscores his professional longevity and adaptability in the league.

Did You Know?

• Anisimov was selected to the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic, representing the PlanetUSA team, and scored one goal and two assists including the game-winner.
• He was deliberately hit in the head by Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins on 28 November 2009, resulting in a two-game suspension for Cooke.
• During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Anisimov returned to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL alongside fellow NHLers Semyon Varlamov and Dmitry Kulikov.
• He recorded a four-point game (one goal, three assists) on 6 February 2016 while playing for the Chicago Blackhawks against the Dallas Stars.

From Yaroslavl to the NHL

Artem Anisimov's path to professional hockey began in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl youth system, where he developed before making his semi-professional debut with the organization's junior affiliate, Lokomotiv-2, during the 2004–05 season. His first taste of senior competition came in 2005–06, though ten games with the parent club yielded no points. The following season proved more productive: across 39 regular-season appearances he contributed ten points, and in seven playoff games he added another seven. His talent caught the attention of NHL scouts, and the New York Rangers selected him 54th overall in the second round of the 2006 entry draft. After signing his entry-level contract in August 2007, Anisimov spent two seasons honing his craft with the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he posted impressive offensive numbers—16 goals and 43 points in 2007–08, then 37 goals and 81 points in 2008–09—before earning a brief but memorable call-up to Madison Square Garden in early 2009.

International Career and Medals

Beyond the NHL, Anisimov carved out a significant place in Russian international hockey. He represented his country at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, multiple senior World Championships, and several World Junior Championships. Across this extensive international résumé, he collected one gold medal, three silver medals, and two bronze medals—a testament to consistent performance on the world stage over many years. His international experience also intersected with his club career in notable ways: he suffered a wrist injury during international duty that required surgery before the 2010–11 season, and during the 2012–13 NHL lockout he returned to his former Russian club, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, in the KHL, where he recorded 12 goals and 29 points in 36 games before rejoining his NHL team. These international stints reinforced his identity as a player who thrived under the pressure of representing Russia at the highest level.

Adversity and Resilience

Anisimov's career was marked by several episodes of physical adversity that tested his durability. In November 2009, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke delivered a deliberate head hit that forced Anisimov from the game and resulted in a two-game suspension for Cooke. More seriously, in February 2013, a collision with Detroit Red Wings defenceman Kyle Quincey struck Anisimov high, requiring him to be carried off the ice on a stretcher and taken to hospital as a precaution. Off the ice, he underwent wrist surgery after an injury sustained during international duty. His offensive consistency was also challenged: he endured a 17-game pointless stretch mid-season in 2011–12, breaking it with a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers, and had earlier gone 17 games without a point in 2009–10, drawing calls for a demotion to the AHL. Despite these setbacks, he returned each time to contribute meaningfully, including recording three-point games and career-high scoring seasons.

Peak Contributions and Career Arc

Anisimov's most productive NHL season came in 2010–11, when he centered a line with Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky that became the Rangers' most effective trio. He set career highs with 18 goals, 26 assists, and 44 points while appearing in all 82 games. He also delivered memorable multi-point performances, including a three-point game against Columbus in November 2009 and another against Philadelphia in February 2012, where he set up goals by Marián Gáborík and Michael Del Zotto. His playoff résumé included appearances in the 2011 and 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the 2012 run carrying the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final before a loss to New Jersey. His career took a dramatic turn in 2012 when, just one season into his contract, he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of a deal that sent star forward Rick Nash to New York. In Columbus, he made his debut in January 2013 and scored a shootout-winning goal against Nashville.

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