On Tuesday, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms signed veteran NHL player Artem Anisimov to a player tryout contract (PTO). The 34-year-old from Yaroslavl, Russia, played for the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) last season with eight goals and 11 assists (19 points) in 27 games. In addition, he scored a goal and two assists (3 points) in four playoff games.
The New York Rangers drafted Anisimov in the second round (54th pick) in the 2006 NHL Draft. He played two seasons in the AHL for the Hartford Wolf Pack with 53 goals and 71 assists (124 points) in 154 games. Anisimov was named an AHL All-Star during the 2008-09 season.
Anisimov played 13 seasons in the NHL with the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks, and Ottawa Senators, scoring 180 goals and 196 assists (376 points) in 771 games. In addition, Anisimov has eight goals and nine assists (17 points) in 43 NHL playoff games.
Internationally, Anisimov represented Russia in the IIHF World Championship, Euro Hockey Tour, World Juniors, and the Super Series. In the IIHF World Championship, Anisimov scored ten goals and six assists (26 points) in 55 games, helping Russia win Gold Medal in 2014, two Silver Medals in 2010 and 2015, and a Bronze Medal in 2019.
In 2007, Anisimov scored two goals and one assist (3 points) in six games for the World Juniors U20, winning a Silver Medal, and in 2008 scored a goal and three assists (4 points) in seven games, helping Russia’s U20 team win the Bronze Medal.
