After coming to the Chicago Blackhawks in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets before 2015-16, Anisimov scored 22 goals that season and clicked instantly with right wing Patrick Kane, who won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL scoring leader.
Selected by the New York Rangers in the second round (No. 54) in the 2006 NHL Draft, Anisimov played for Russia at the 2006 World Under-18 Championship, then had two goals and three points in 2007 to help Russia win a silver medal at the World Junior Championship.
After coming to the Chicago Blackhawks in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets before 2015-16, Anisimov scored 22 goals that season and clicked instantly with right wing Patrick Kane, who won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL scoring leader.
Selected by the New York Rangers in the second round (No. 54) in the 2006 NHL Draft, Anisimov played for Russia at the 2006 World Under-18 Championship, then had two goals and three points in 2007 to help Russia win a silver medal at the World Junior Championship.
After three years with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in Russia, Anisimov came to North America for the 2007-08 season and had 16 goals and 43 points with Hartford, the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate. He also won a bronze medal with Russia at the 2008 World Junior Championship.
Blossoming in 2008-09, Anisimov led Hartford with 81 points (27 goals) and played in the AHL All-Star Game. Anisimov made his NHL debut for the Rangers Feb. 3, 2009, against the Atlanta Thrashers, and made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut April 28, 2009, against the Washington Capitals in Game 7 of the first round.
As a rookie Anisimov was sixth on the Rangers in goals (12) and eighth in points (28) in 2009-10, playing all 82 games. He got his first NHL point Oct. 8, 2009 against the Capitals and scored his first League goal three days later, beating Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the Anaheim Ducks.
In 2010-11 he tied for third on the Rangers in assists (26) and had four points Jan. 19, 2011, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored his first Stanley Cup Playoff goal April 20, 2011, against Washington. In the 2012 playoffs, Anisimov had 10 points and three multipoint games for the Rangers.
The Rangers traded Anisimov to the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 23, 2012, with Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon and a 2013 first-round draft pick for Rick Nash, Steven Delisle and a 2013 conditional third-round draft choice. Anisimov scored in his Blue Jackets debut Jan. 19, 2013, against the Nashville Predators.
Anisimov had his first 20-goal season in the NHL in 2013-14, finishing second on the Blue Jackets with 22 goals. He also won a gold medal with Russia at the 2014 World Championship, scoring four points in 10 games.
Columbus traded Anisimov to Chicago on June 30, 2015, with Marko Dano, Corey Tropp, Jeremy Morin and a 2016 fourth-round draft pick for Brandon Saad, Alex Broadhurst and Michael Paliotta.
