Bluelines: Looking Toward Next Season
Artem Anisimov fits neatly into Rangers' plans
Posted on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Artem Anisimov dressed for only one Rangers playoff game but he's a big piece of the puzzle for the Blueshirts' plans next season. The Hartford Wolfpack's leading scorer, Anisimov arguably is New York's best prospect. Artem claims that he has learned English by watching Russian and English versions of the same movie. At 6-4, 205 pounds, he's the kind of big man John Tortorella needs up front. Linemate Brodie Dupont notes, "Artem can do a lot of things that a lot of us only wish we could do!"
- Our gut feeling is that the Islanders – with the first draft pick – will opt for Victor Hedman. The thinking is that Garth Snow will view him as the next Nik Lidstrom – or Denis Potvin!
- Best of the Unrestricted Free Agent Goaltenders: Start with Florida's Craig Anderson. Toughest call of all has to be Scott Clemmensen. There's no way he stays with New Jersey unless he's guaranteed a minimum of 20 games next season. It's doubtful that Lou Lamoriello can – or even would – make that offer. But would any GM regard Martin Brodeur's very effcient backup – check his 2008-09 record – as a pure Number One?
- The Islanders brass want it known that Rick DiPietro will start skating in the Summer and join the club at its Saskatoon training camp in September. Until something different happens, take that as gospel.
- Brian Leetch describes his retirement job as "Mister Mom." However, there's every chance the Rangers Hall-of-Famer will return to hockey in some capacity. When the Hartford Courant's Paul Doyle asked Leetch what it's like being a former Ranger captain who now lives in Boston, Number Two shot back: "It's not as hard as it is being a Yankees fan up here. I keep my head down a lot!"
- Bergen (New Jersey) Record's columnist Tara Sullivan makes an interesting comparson between Martin Brodeur and Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera: "The two are remarkably similiar in their ability to wear an impenetrable armor in the face of defeat."
- There's a similarity between Sean Avery and Adam Burish. The Chicago chatterbox admits that his most frequently asked question is, "Do you every shut up?"
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