HARTFORD — Hartford Wolf Pack forward Artem Anisimov was released from his professional tryout with the team on Tuesday.
Anisimov played in 18 games with the Wolf Pack during the 2023-24 season, recording a goal and three assists during that time.
The transaction comes days after forward Matt Rempe was called up to the Wolf Pack’s parent club, the New York Rangers. Rempe played his first game with the Rangers in the Stadium Series game at MetLife Stadium against the New York Islanders, recording a fight on his first shift.
Anisimov started his NHL career with the New York Rangers after being drafted 54th overall by the club in 2006. He played in Hartford for his first two seasons, appearing in 154 games, scoring 53 goals and recording 71 assists during his first two seasons.
“As much as it was cool having him back here,” Wolf Pack fan Jon Symecko said, “he wasn’t producing.”
Anisimov played in 771 career games in the NHL, scoring 180 goals and recording 196 assists over 13 seasons with the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators.
“The Rangers are too focused on young guys,” Wolf Pack fan Ryan Mikaitis said. “They don’t realize that age comes with experience. We need older players teaching the younger guys, but the Rangers always seem to miss this.”
The Rangers currently sit atop the Metropolitan Division with 75 points. However, injuries have been a problem for the Rangers all season. They lost Blake Wheeler and Filip Chytil to season-ending injuries and former 2nd overall pick in 2019, Kaapo Kakko, for a number of months. To make up for the injuries, the Rangers have called up several Wolf Pack players, including captain Jonny Brodzinski, Alex Belzile, Matt Rempe and Brennan Othmann.
The oldest player on the Rangers, other than the injured Wheeler, is 32-year-old Chris Kreider. The oldest player on the Wolf Pack with Anisimov’s departure is Riley Nash, who is 34 years old.
“Even on their main roster they always have a young team,” MIkaitis said. “They never think in the present, always the future.”
The Wolf Pack have lost three of their past four games and will play Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday against Bridgeport, Cleveland, and Springfield, respectively.
