Flyers sign veteran center Artem Anisimov to a PTO

Long-time NHLer Anisimov, 34, played the 2021-22 season for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv in the KHL. He was tied for sixth on the team in points with 19 in 27 games played. He was a big part of the team and a key factor in their successful season which resulted in a playoff berth.

Anisimov played the first four seasons of his career with the New York Rangers after being selected by them in the second round of the 2006 NHL Draft. During his time in New York, Anisimov established himself as a full-time NHLer.

Anisimov gained further recognition when he was a part of a big 2012 trade which sent Brandon Dubinsky to Columbus and Rick Nash to New York. Anisimov played three seasons for the Blue Jackets, setting a career-high in goals (22) in 2013-14.

In the 2015 offseason, he was yet again part of a big trade. This time he was dealt along with Marko Dano, Corey Tropp, and Jeremy Morin to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Brandon Saad and other players.

It was in Chicago that Anisimov had the most productive seasons of his career. He ended up playing 291 games for the Blackhawks, scoring 77 goals and 155 points. He was a valuable component of Chicago’s secondary scoring during its declining years.

In the 2019 offseason, Anisimov was traded to the Ottawa Senators for Zack Smith. Anisimov played 68 games for the Senators over the next two seasons, scoring 17 goals and 29 points.

After spending this past season in the KHL, Anisimov is trying to make a comeback to the NHL. In his 13-year NHL career, he has 771 games played and 376 points.