Ex-Senator Artem Anisimov announces retirement from NHL

When the 2019-20 season was taking shape for the Ottawa Senators, the team was in the middle of a rough road. The Senators had missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season after reaching the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals.

To boost the offense, the Senators made a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in July 2019 to acquire Artem Anisimov in exchange for Zack Smith. The Senators trading Smith came as a surprise as he was a member of the Senators since the 2008-09 season.

In Chicago, Anisimov was able to produce offense on a struggling team. The Senators were hoping the same would carry over with a then fresh start. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for Anisimov, and the NHL now says goodbye to Anisimov.

Artem Anisimov has announced his retirement from the NHL after 13 seasons

After playing in 771 games and recording 376 points, Anisimov has announced his retirement from the NHL. Anisimov spent the final two seasons of his career with the Senators, and last played an NHL game on May 12, 2021. Anisimov earned an assist in his final game.

Anisimov's NHL journey began with the New York Rangers where he spent the first four seasons of his career. After New York, Anisimov was then traded to Columbus Blue Jackets. Anisimov spent three seasons in Columbus, and was one of Columbus' most important depth pieces.

After Columbus, Anisimov signed with the Blackhawks in 2015. Anisimov was traded to Ottawa after his fourth season in Chicago. The Senators were hoping his full potential would be reached after having three 20-goal seasons.

Unfortunately, Ottawa and Anisimov didn't work out well. Anismov recorded 20 points in 49 games in the 2019-20 season, and recorded nine points in 19 games of the 56-game shortened 2020-21 season.

In his Senators tenure, Anisimov recorded 29 points in 68 games played. After Ottawa, Anisimov played one season in the KHL in Russia, and played in the AHL for the past two seasons.