Anisimov not satisfied with successful sophomore season
Sunday March 27th 2011, 3:52 pm
Photo: Yarsport
With seven games remaining in his second NHL season, New York Rangers center Artem Anisimov has already eclipsed the numbers he put up in every major statistical category during his rookie year. And his current 18-24-42 stat line is on par with those achieved by current linemates Brandon Dubinsky (13-28-41) and Ryan Callahan (22-18-40) in their respective sophomore seasons, fueling hope that his career will take a similar trajectory as his two teammates’, who currently lead the team in scoring.
As Anisimov told Sovietsky Sport correspondent Alyssa Volbidakht following last week’s match-up with the Ottawa Senators, he isn’t satisfied with his sophomore production, and recognizes that there’s room for improvement. In the interview, translated below, the the 22-year old Yaroslavl native also discussed the Rangers playoff aspirations, their Madison Square Garden neighbors the New York Knicks, and why he chose to wear the number 42.
- It would seem that the Rangers really don’t want to be the last playoff seed.
- That’s the truth. We need to win each game. The more points we collect, the further the separation from those pursuing us.
- As your goaltender Henrik Lundqvist likes to say, “Every day I remind myself that last season we missed the playoffs by only one point.”
- Exactly! Now we could even overtake Montreal. We’re looking at those in front of us, instead of behind.
- Are you happy with your successes this season?
- No.
- But you have good statistics!
- Could have been even better. There are very good examples in the league. Steven Stamkos, the Sedin brothers, Pasha Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk, Sasha Ovechkin, Zhenya Malkin… I need to improve myself, to raise the level of my play.
- It’s possible that you’ll meet some of those guys at the world championship. Will you be going to the national team?
- It depends on the situation in the NHL. For us the most important thing now is the playoffs. The further we go, the better. But if there’s a misfire and the Rangers are knocked out, I’ll gladly play for my native team Russia.
- Do you go to New York Knicks basketball games? After all, you play in the same arena…
- I’ve never been. There’s not enough time. But I’d really like to get out [to one].
- So you didn’t get acquainted with Timofey Mozgov.
- Well… We saw each other in the training center where the Knicks and Rangers train together. We met during lunch in the cafeteria, said hello…
- After the Knicks traded Mozgov for Karmelo Anthony, they lost seven of eight games!
- That’s how it goes. Sorry, I really don’t follow the NBA intently.
- Why did you choose the number 42?
- When I played in Hartford, I wanted to take the number 12. But the sweater with that number was already hanging from the rafters of the local arena…
- Actually, 12 is the only number removed from circulation there. In honor of the former forward and captain Ken Gernander, who now coaches your farm club. He’s the AHL record-holder for goals in the playoffs – 123.
- And then I wanted to take the number 24, because that’s my birthday. But my conscience wouldn’t allow it — my friend [Devil's prospect Alexander Vasyunov], with whom I played together for 7-8 years, wore that number. What to do? So took it and inverted it. And got 42.
- I have to ask you: have you ever read the Douglas Adams book “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?”
- No. What’s that?
- In it the number 42 is answer to the meaning of life and everything else.
- Really? – Anisimov is extremely surprised. – I didn’t know. I’ll have to read it.
- In English it’s called “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
- Thanks, I’d rather read it in Russian. It’ll be easier.
Anisimov happy to remain a Ranger
Monday March 07th 2011, 7:40 am
Photo: Vasily Osipov, Sport-Express
Though still a work in progress, New York Rangers sophomore Artem Anisimov has spent the majority of his second season in the NHL centering the Rangers top trio, regularly facing opposing teams’ top checking or scoring lines and playing a major role in the team’s ability to overcome injuries and remain in the hunt for a playoff berth. His improvement has been reflected on the scoresheet: Just 58 games into his sophomore year, the 22-year old Russian’s 13-18-31 stat line eclipsed his rookie totals in all three categories — goals (12), assists (16), and points (28). And with 14 games remaining, he’s just four goals shy of the first of what Rangers fans hope will be many 20+ goal campaigns as a Blueshirt.
Anisimov’s progress as a player has not only turned the head of Russian national team assistant coach Andrei Nazarov, who was in New York last week to talk to the young pivot about a potential role on Russia’s World Championship team this spring, but the heads of scouts and general managers around the league as well. That became all the more evident at the NHL Trade Deadline, when the Yaroslavl native was included in a rumored blockbuster trade for Dallas center Brad Richards that (fortunately) never took place.
After the Rangers’ 3-2 defeat by the Buffalo Sabres last Tuesday, Sport Express reporter Vasily Osipov met with Anisimov to talk to him about his second season in the NHL. Their conversation covered Anisimov’s growth as a player, his role on the team, the visit from Nazarov, and his feelings on being the focus of recent trade rumors. A translation of Osipov’s interview is provided below.
- What was the reason for the loss in the game against [Buffalo,] a principle adversary in the fight to make the playoffs?
- In terms of tension, the game reminded me of a playoff game. The speeds were crazy, there were battles on every inch of the ice. The Sabres had more success, most likely, because they converted on their chances. For the most part, we weren’t able to solve the most valuable player of the last Olympic Games — Ryan Miller. The American goaltender once again played above all praise. The defeat, of course, is disappointing, but the situation still depends only on us. We must not relax at all, and continue to fight for a win in every game, for the playoffs.
- But blame can’t be placed on you — you were very active and effective…
- I’m still working at consistently having one hundred percent concentration on the ice.
- Today, having scored your fourteenth goal, you broke your personal goal-scoring record for a season. And many experts say that Anisimov has improved very much this year. Who better than you can best reveal the secret of your progress?
- First and foremost it’s due to hard work in practice. And in general, progress is made up of small components. For example, the ability to read the play, anticipate an opponent’s actions. Improvement in each component results in improvement in your play in general. In addition, I’ve gained experience, which helps one feel more confidence. So now I get more enjoyment from hockey than a few years ago.
- Do you feel that head coach [John] Tortorella trusts you more?
- Yes, you get those feelings when you’re put out in the final, deciding minutes of a game. When, in essence, you have no margin for error, and the game’s result depends on you. At those times the adrenaline is overwhelming. Post-game shootouts are the same way. During these moments the coach’s trust is also shown. I’m very glad that I’m often not left as an extra in the deciding moments of a game.
- Do you worry on the ice like you used to?
- It’s already much less than in my first season, when I often just didn’t know where to go or what to do (laughs). Now I can control my nerves, even in critical situations.
- At the trade deadline there were persistent rumors that you would be traded to Dallas for the Canadian Brad Richards. What thoughts did you have that day?
- There was some nervousness, of course. But I tried not to get caught up in it. I plugged away in practice as usual. Only in the locker room did the guys tell me that it was a real possibility. Naturally, I was very happy that the deal ultimately didn’t take place and I remained with the Rangers. It’ll give me additional strength to prove that their trust in me isn’t in vain, and to help the team win a ticket to the playoffs.
- On the Russian national team you’re no longer relegated to the role of fourth line center. On the contrary, the coaching staff expects you to be one of the leaders. Are you ready for such responsibility?
- It’s difficult to talk about it now, because you really need to be in a concrete situation. So let’s wait and see.
- This coming summer you’ll become a free agent. Could that influence your prospects to play in Slovakia [at the World Championship]?
- Let’s not rush things.
- And the last question: How did your conversation with [Team Russia assistant coach] Andrei Nazarov, who flew in specifically for the game, go?
- He called in the morning and said that he would wait for me after the game. [We had] a good, professional talk. But the details, you’ll excuse me, are not for the press.
Osipov also spoke to Nazarov, who, in addition to his position with the Russian national team, is also head coach of KHL team Vityaz Chekhov. A translation of their conversation, in which Nazarov discussed not only Anisimov, but also his interest in Rangers tough guy Derek Boogaard, can be found here.
Has Glen Sather found a way out of his latest bad contract?
Thursday March 03rd 2011, 12:32 am
Hey look you guys, I still have a blog! My apologies for the extended absence. I can’t promise it won’t happen again, but for the time being I’m back with a couple of goodies foraged from the Russian press…
Photo: Getty Images
When New York Rangers General Manager Glen Sather signed tough guy Derek Boogaard to a 4-year, $6.5 million contract last summer, the hockey world shook its collective head, sighed, and muttered “there he goes again.” And before the giant enforcer was felled by a concussion in early December, it looked like Sather had in fact saddled his team with yet another albatross contract. Unable to compete — or keep up — at a satisfactory level for head coach John Tortorella, Boogaard rarely saw more than four or five minutes of ice time a night, sometimes playing as few as three or four shifts in a game.
Boogaard’s injury — he’s not expected to play again this season — has allowed Sather to avoid having to make any tough decisions this year. But there are three more years remaining on his contract. And with the Rangers needing to re-sign a handful of core restricted free agents this summer, and likely to pursue big-ticket free agent Brad Richards on July 1st, Boogard’s $1.625 million worth of cap space must look awfully enticing.
Enter Andrei Nazarov, head coach of KHL goon squad Checkhov Vityaz. You know, the team famous for giving NHL/AHL-rejects Chris Simon, Darcy Verot, Brandon Sugden and Josh Gratton a place to ply their trade.
In addition to his duties with Vityaz, Nazarov, a former NHL pugilist himself, is also an assistant coach for the Russian national team. In that role, he is tasked with being the liaison between the team and Russian players in the NHL. As a result, Nazarov was in New York for Tuesday’s tilt between the Rangers and Buffalo Sabres, checking up on Russian Ranger Artem Anisimov. But as Sport-Express reporter Vasily Osipov reveals in his post-game interview with Nazarov, the veteran of 571 NHL games and 1,409 penalty minutes also spoke with his former Minnesota Wild teammate Boogaard, and may have had a secondary purpose for his trip…
- Isn’t it annoying to you that they call you a Black Cloud? [All the teams Nazarov visited last season missed the playoffs, or made early exits.] The Rangers lost today…
- All these nicknames are how you journalists make your living – laughed Nazarov. Us hockey people regard this with humor. I think they really call me the Dove of Peace. Because I wish all our NHLers only good luck and success.
- How would you assess Anisimov’s aggressive and effective game?
- I’d like to refrain from public assessments until I talk with [national team head coach] Vyacheslav Bykov. But you yourself saw all of Artem’s games this season: the progress in his game is obvious. Tortorella is a unique and interesting coach, and that Anisimov was able to adapt to his requirements says a lot. I managed to talk to several representatives of the Rangers, and all of them unanimously praise our legionary. And it’s worth taking into account that he plays the center position, which is in rather short supply for Russian hockey. All in all, the only thing that was left for me to do was to congratulate Artem.
- Will Anisimov help the national team at the World Championship in Slovakia?
- That’s not an entirely reasonable question, in view of the fact that Artem’s team is in a desperate fight for a place in the playoffs. Incidentally, in speaking about Anisimov, we shouldn’t forget about our other legionary on the Rangers – Alexander Frolov. He has a serious injury, but it’s during just such difficult times that the support and attention of his homeland is important for any player.
- And how would you comment on your interest in Boogard?
- It’s clear that nothing has been decided yet, and that general manager Alexei Zhamnov is ultimately in charge of personnel questions for Vityaz. But I’ve known Derek ever since we played together for Minnesota, when he was taking his first steps in the NHL. Even then I guessed that Boogard would make some noise in the League. And that’s happened.
- I’ll phrase the question in another way: during your trip through the NHL are you searching for a fighter for Vityaz?
- First of all I’m here on national team business. But — I won’t hide — the problem you mentioned is solved…
Standard disclaimer: Like all reports in the Russian press, this one should be taken with a grain of salt until confirmed by a North American source.
Osipov also spoke to Anisimov after the game — about his season, the national team, and being the focus of recent trade rumors for Brad Richards. A translation of their conversation is available here…
