Get to Know a Ranger: Artem Anisimov

by J.P. on Apr 12, 2011 10:30 AM EDT

[Ed. note: As part of the build-up to the first round playoff series between the Capitals and the Rangers, Japers' Rink will be looking at some of the important but lesser-known players on the Rangers and how they might impact the series.]

Artem Anisimov

#42 / Center / New York Rangers

Height: 6-4

Weight: 200

Born: May 24, 1988

Birthplace: Yaroslavl, USSR

Drafted: 54th overall, 2006 by New York

Assets	Has a very projectable frame, excellent two-way instincts and some untapped offensive potential. Displays plenty of playmaking ability.
Flaws	Doesn't have natural goal-scoring acumen, and could stand to use his size more to his advantage at both ends of the ice.
Career Potential	Big all-around center with upside. (Assets, Flaws and Career Potential via SB Nation player page)

Regular Season	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	PPA	GWG	SOG	PCT	ATOI
2008-09	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9:27
2009-10	82	12	16	28	-2	32	1	1	2	124	9.7	12:54
2010-11	82	18	26	44	3	20	3	5	2	190	9.5	16:12

Playoffs	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	PPA	GWG	SOG	PCT	ATOI
2008-09	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	5:35

Why you should know who he is - Anisimov spent much of the regular season skating with Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky playing the tough minutes, but in the wake of the injury to Callahan, he has been skating with Vinny Prospal and Marian Gaborik. The fact that John Tortorella is comfortable playing him on those two very different lines says a lot about the young Russian, as does the fact that he averaged more than a minute of ice time per game on both special teams units. His five-goal/six-assist March was the best month (production-wise) of his young career, and he ended the season with 13 points in his last 18 games.

How the Caps can stop him - With just a 44.5% success rate on faceoffs, Anisimov is a bit of a liability in the dot, and he can be a streaky scorer - prior to his hot March, he had just ten points in 26 games in January and February, four of which came in one game against the Leafs. Gaborik will be the one to watch on that line, but the Caps can't afford to lose Anisimov, or he's likely make them pay.

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Other interesting Anisimov facts: he’s good friends with Semyon Varlamov from their minor hockey days in Yaroslavl.

Another thing about Anisimov: his NHL playoff debut was game 7 of the Caps-Rangers series.

by Wheeler on Apr 12, 2011 10:36 AM EDT reply actions

Wow, I had no idea he was that big. He doesn’t look 6’ 4" on TV.

by DrinkingPartner on Apr 12, 2011 10:38 AM EDT reply actions

Sure doesn’t play 6’4". I bet that really pisses off Rags fans, but I’d take him over here if they want to get rid of him.

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by Rob Parker on Apr 12, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Absolutely, and wasn’t he on waivers either really early this season or late last season? Could’ve had him for nuthin’.

by DrinkingPartner on Apr 12, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t remember him on waivers, but it would be sad if we did miss that. Can’t see how a Russian potential 2C falls through the cracks like that.

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by Rob Parker on Apr 12, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I don’t think he was waived at any point.

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by J.P. on Apr 12, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Must be thinking of someone else, then.

by DrinkingPartner on Apr 12, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Zherdev?

by Berube Doobie Doo on Apr 12, 2011 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

He was waived from the Rags, even, wasn’t he?

by DrinkingPartner on Apr 12, 2011 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Philly

by Berube Doobie Doo on Apr 12, 2011 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Could’ve sworn that whoever it is I’m thinking of was a Ranger that was on waivers.

by DrinkingPartner on Apr 12, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Donald Brashear.

by Berube Doobie Doo on Apr 12, 2011 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Aw shit, son!

by DrinkingPartner on Apr 12, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

And given that he’s still on his ELC the Rags probably didn’t have to waive him to send him to the AHL. There’s no reason for them to try to get rid of him by waiving him.

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by Rob Parker on Apr 12, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

I think that we (as fans) have to realize that there are just going to be different types of 6’4" players in the NHL now. It used to be that the bigger guys automatically were big hitters or played with a physical edge, but not so much anymore.

He’s a nice player, and he’s shown good development from year 1 to year 2.

by RCheli on Apr 12, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree. Not sure if you thought I was implying something else by my comment, but I definitely agree that players should play however they are most effective regardless of size or stereotype.

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by Rob Parker on Apr 12, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Y! has him at 6’3", fwiw.

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by J.P. on Apr 12, 2011 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

10 pounds less, too.

by DrinkingPartner on Apr 12, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I sat in front of some knowledgeable rangers fans at the last caps-rangers game and they said that he had one move he uses a lot. Basically, he does a spin move/shot thing, which can work, but apparently is predictable.

by jblonz on Apr 12, 2011 10:40 AM EDT reply actions

Is he another in a line that of players like Antropov, Victor Kozlov, Poni, etc.? Big rigs, above average to very good skill sets, but just not up there, due to a perceived lack of want-to?

by S h a g g y on Apr 12, 2011 10:43 AM EDT reply actions

Given that he played the tough defensive minutes I assume he plays with a little more urgency than those guys.

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by Rob Parker on Apr 12, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

AA has a 50.2% OZone , and he finishes in the OZone exactly 50.2 as well. IIRC, that’s slightly better than expected, so he’s doing something right.

Boyle has a 40.3% OZone number, so AA isn’t the go-to option in the D zone it would appear.

However, he has a positive FO number in the D zone, so again he’s doing something right when he’s there.

My impression is that AA tends to disappear for stretches, but has enough skill that he periodically surfaces and makes an impact. Overall, a nice player, likely to get better, and the Caps will have to account for him. If they can neutralize him, they’ll take a good step towards taking Gabo out of the mix, too.

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by fat_daddyo on Apr 12, 2011 11:19 AM EDT reply actions

My impression is that AA tends to disappear for stretches, but has enough skill that he periodically surfaces and makes an impact.

That’s pretty much him. Flashes of brilliance, but goes through long stretches where he looks like he’s still figuring it out. If he goes through the same skating regiment Boyle went through over the offseason, he could be a force.

It’s hard not to like his progress from year one to year 2, but some Rangers fans still think he’s expendable.

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by George E. Ays on Apr 12, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

So how brilliant are the flashes of brilliance? Semin or Flash? There’s a big difference.

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by Alz Well That Ends Well on Apr 12, 2011 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

He doesn’t have the ability to take over a game like Semin (at least not yet), so by default its closer to Flash, but it’s really somewhere in-between. Some of his goals this year have been of the “where the hell did that come from” variety, just lethal wrist shots.

He’s up from 6.77 ES SOG/60 to 8.55 this season, which is good improvement, especially when he was only at 7.4 in mid December. If he can get that number up to ~9.5, he can be a 25 goal a year guy, which combined with his competition levels would give the Rangers a very valuable #2C, with some potential to be a #1.

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by George E. Ays on Apr 12, 2011 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Nice exposition, thanks.

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by Alz Well That Ends Well on Apr 12, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Can’t imagine that he gets cut loose. Young, some upside, good size, good skill, looks like he has some responsiblity to his game, plays an important position…those are the guys you need to keep.

Any particular flaws to his game? Does he get rattled by physical pressure? Fast guys give him trouble, or does he struggle to keep big guys under control?

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by fat_daddyo on Apr 12, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

J.P pretty much nailed it, he doesn’t always use his size to his advantage and gets pushed around at times. It’s not a constant thing, I’ve certainly seen him be very tough to move off the puck. Fast guys give the whole Rangers team trouble (see our record vs TB and MTL), so it’s hard to specifically tie that to Artie. It’s really just inconsistency, you’re never completely sure which Anisimov you’re getting. We experienced the same thing with Dubinsky (and Callahan, though no one talks about that). I think it’s just the nature of having 22 year olds on the roster that aren’t named Crosby/Ovechkin.

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by George E. Ays on Apr 12, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Typical Russian will probably fold in the playoffs as usual.

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by jaytown99 on Apr 12, 2011 12:25 PM EDT reply actions

Definitely a Player on the Rise...

Anisimov should be more physical and should play a larger game. He reminds me of a young Viktor Kozlov, good skill, good size, but doesn’t use the size as he should.

He has good hands for a big player, and he has pretty good speed to, although he’s not going to win any skating contests. He probably is best suited to playing center, where he can be a little less physical. He can be put on a line where someone else can take the draws.

The Caps do need to watch this guy carefully, but they don’t need someone large to keep track of him.

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by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 12, 2011 12:29 PM EDT reply actions

Anisimov should be more physical and should play a larger game. He reminds me of a young Viktor Kozlov, good skill, good size, but doesn’t use the size as he should.

Great, great comparison there except, I believe, Arty has a higher upside. He just needs about 15, 20 more pounds of muscle to reach it because the extra oomph would raise his confidence. Thus far he has gained confidence from playing with tough linemates, he hasn’t gained it himself. He was at his best when he had Shelley and Prust on his wings last year and recaptured some of that magic with Cally and Dubi earlier this season, although I would say that anyone would be much improved playing with those two. Without powerful wingers, Arty often gets lost out there, is afraid to show off his skill and doesn’t shoot enough.

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by Scotty Hockey on Apr 12, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

He certainly has more upside than Kozlov, but Kozlov did have a bunch of 20-25 goal seasons. I’m not sure that Anisimov has that in him unless he changes his game to be less like Kozlov and more like Knuble. Knuble makes his living in front of the net, whereas Kozlov plays like the net is radioactive. If the Rangers work on getting his face-off ability up (that can be learned) and keep him at center, he’ll be a 45-55 point guy every year and won’t have to be as physical. Playing center will also allow him to use more of his playmaking ability and priority on shooting will be reduced.

You’re right though, having Anisimov at 23 now, or Kozlov at 23, I’d rather have Anisimov.

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by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 12, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

from a Rangers fan perspective

Artie tends to be on the fence of being part of the rebuilding effort or a valuable piece to trade for something better. He has shown flashes of using his size, speed and smooth hands but he tends to fade away during games. He has been most productive when on a line with Dubinsky and Callahan. Those two would work down low and push the puck towards the net while Anisimov provides support along the wall. His disappearing act could be that he’s only 22 and still has time to learn how to assert himself in a game but I don’t think its anything that Ranger fans should worry about long term

Overall I think that he has talent to be a sturdy, 20-25+ goal scoring 2nd line center for the rangers

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by Kevin Power on Apr 12, 2011 12:39 PM EDT reply actions 9 recs