Detroit Red Wings sign Artem Anisimov, Michael Hutchinson to pro tryouts
The Detroit Red Wings have signed forward Artem Anisimov and goaltender Michael Hutchinson to professional tryout agreements, CapFriendly reported Tuesday evening.
Anisimov, 35, last played in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators during the 2020–21 season, collecting nine points in 19 games. The 6’3″ centre spent the 2022–23 season with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, racking up 19 goals and 36 points in 55 contests.
Hutchinson, 33, is one of a very small group of NHL goaltenders who catch with their right hand. The 6’3″ netminder appeared in 16 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022–23, going 2–6–3 with an .877 save percentage.
The Red Wings will kick off their 2023 training camp in Traverse City, Michigan on Thursday. Anisimov and Hutchinson join 23-year-old forward Cam Willis in attending Red Wings camp on PTO agreements.
Detroit #RedWings signed two players to professional try outs today.
F – Artem Anisimov
G – Michael Hutchinsonhttps://t.co/E2iKhf7X9G
The New York Rangers originally selected Anisimov way back in the second round (No. 54 overall) of the 2006 NHL Draft. The Yaroslavl, Russia product made his NHL debut with the Rangers in the 2008–09 season and established himself as a regular the following year, collecting 12 goals and 28 points in 82 games.
Anisimov spent three full seasons on Broadway before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2012 as part of the blockbuster Rick Nash deal. Then, after three years in Ohio, Anisimov was sent to the Chicago Blackhawks as the centerpiece of a package for Brandon Saad.
Finally, after four seasons in Chicago, Anisimov was flipped to the Senators in 2019 in exchange for forward Zack Smith. Through 771 career games over 13 NHL seasons with the Rangers, Blue Jackets, Blackhawks, and Senators, Anisimov has collected 180 goals and 376 points; he’s added 17 points in 43 playoff contests.
Hutchinson made his NHL debut with the Winnipeg Jets back in the 2013–14 season after being unable to break through in his three previous years as a Boston Bruins prospect. Hutchinson provided the Jets some stability in a tandem with Ondrej Pavelec before they were both supplanted by an up-and-coming Connor Hellebuyck in 2015–16.
The Jets cut bait with Hutchinson in 2018. He subsequently bounced around between the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, and Vegas Golden Knights organizations before being traded to the Blue Jackets in March as part of the Jonathan Quick deal.
Hutchinson should be able to provide some competition alongside Ville Husso, James Reimer, Alex Lyon, and Sebastian Cossa at Red Wings training camp. The Barrie, Ontario product has put together a 57–61–18 record with a .902 save percentage in 153 career NHL games.