Veteran center Artem Anisimov has officially retired from the NHL after 13 seasons, as confirmed by the NHLPA. The 36-year-old Russian player wraps up a solid career that spanned over 13 years with four different teams.
Drafted in the second round by the New York Rangers in 2006, Anisimov made his NHL debut in 2009 after developing in the AHL. He quickly became a dependable two-way center, playing full-time for the Rangers by the age of 21. His best season with the team came in 2010-11, where he scored 44 points, including 18 goals and 16 assists.
In 2012, Anisimov was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the deal that brought Rick Nash to New York. While his time in Columbus was impacted by injuries, he set a personal record of 22 goals during the 2013-14 season and helped the team to its second-ever playoff appearance.
Anisimov’s next move came in 2015 when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. While Chicago’s championship era was ending, he still had his most productive years there, reaching the 20-goal mark in three consecutive seasons and even earning votes for the Selke Trophy.
After his stint in Chicago, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators but was hampered by injuries, playing just 68 games across two seasons. Anisimov became a free agent in 2021 but didn’t sign another NHL contract, despite attempts to return to the league while playing in the AHL and back in Russia.
Over his career, Anisimov played 771 NHL games, recording 180 goals, 196 assists, and 376 points. He also appeared in 43 playoff games, contributing 17 points. His career earnings were approximately $37.5 million.
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