Using Up One Veteran Spot

It's not often that a player with more than 700 NHL games gets signed to an AHL contract without the NHL affiliate inking him to a two-way deal, but Artem Anisimov is a special case this season. The Russian centerman was invited to the Philadelphia Flyers' camp on a professional tryout offer, but he suffered a broken foot early in the preseason after blocking a Vinni Lettieri one-timer with his laces. Because he never played the full camp, the Flyers never bothered to sign the 13-year NHL veteran despite his experience, but that didn't deter Anisimo. He clearly wants to give this hockey thing another go so he's back in the Flyers' system after accepting a PTO from the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Tuesday!

The Phantoms will certainly benefit having Anisimov in their lineup as the veteran has skated in 771 NHL games to date, totalling 180 goals and 196 assists for 376 points in those contests. He's spent time with the New York Rangers, Columbus, Chicago and Ottawa, and appeared to be on the way to skating for John Tortorella once again just as he did when he was with the Blueshirts. Fate intervened, though, and now he'll give it a shot in the AHL with Lehigh Valley while trying to earn another NHL deal.

You have to expect that the Flyers recognize the importance of getting a player like Anisimov skating once again. The NHL club has been decimated with injuries as Sean Couturier appears to be out long-term while James van Riemsdyk is weeks away from returning to the lineup. While the team has filled holes thanks to the waiver wire, getting a proven player like Anisimov in their lineup will help immensely if he can show he's still got some hockey in him with Lehigh Valley.

While he's a long way from being the 54th-overall pick in 2006, Anisimov is only three seasons from a 37-point campaign with Ottawa and four seasons from his last 20-goal campaign with Chicago. No one is suggesting that he's going to find that scoring with the Flyers or Phantoms, but if he plays hard, wins face-offs, finishes checks, and plays well both with and without the puck, there's no reason to think he won't land in Philadelphia at some point.

Anisimov will obviously fall into "veteran" status in the AHL thanks to his longevity at the NHL level, but the Phantoms have some flexibility there as they have Cal O'Reilly, Garrett Wilson, and Kevin Connauton under contract as veteran players. AHL teams can dress a maximum of five veteran players, so Anisimov should be able to jump right into the fire with the Phantoms when they play Providence on Friday assuming he's ready to go that night.

Like Eric Staal last season with the Iowa Wild, the chance for a long-time NHL forward to get back to the show doesn't seem as far when opportunities like this come up. Tortorlla seems to like Anisimov, so there could be a push to get him into game shape as soon as possible so the Flyers can sign him to a deal and get a veteran centerman into their lineup. Whatever the case, it would seem that Anisimov will play in North American rinks for the time being as opposed to spending a second season in the KHL with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv.

Just for the record, Eric Staal landed with the Florida Panthers this year, so it's not hard to believe that Anisimov will soon be a Flyers centerman. When and where might be the only questions left to answer if he can show everyone the foot injury hasn't slowed him too much while he skates his butt off trying to get into "Torts" shape for the season. That work starts this weekend with Lehigh Valley.

Here's hoping we see Artem Anisimov get his NHL break once again as he tries to break the 800-game and 200-goal barriers this season!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!