CapFriendly reports that the Red Wings signed free agent forward Artem Anisimov and free agent goaltender Michael Hutchinson, who are 35 and 33 years old, respectively, to pro try-outs.
Now both players are long-shots to make the Red Wings’ NHL roster, and are more likely to earn AHL or ECHL jobs. Anisimov played for the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL last season, posting 36 points in 55 games, and Hutchinson played in 16 middling games for Columbus and 7 AHL games for Vegas’ AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights (both with a sub-.900 save percentage).
Why sign the pair to PTO’s? Well, in the former’s case, Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen duly notes that Anisimov has a history with a certain Alex DeBrincat…
Anisimov, a 35-year-old center, has played 771 NHL games over 13 seasons. He’s a four-time 20-goal scorer in the league, doing so once with the Columbus Blue Jackets and three times for the Chicago Blackhawks. The Red Wings have been enjoying success by recruiting ex-Chicago forwards in recent seasons, namely Pius Suter and Dominik Kubalik. This season, Detroit acquired Alex DeBrincat, a two-time 40-goal scorer for Chicago, from Ottawa. Anisimov was a frequent linemate of DeBrincat’s with the Blackhawks.
Anisimov last skated in the NHL during the 2020-21 season with the Ottawa Senators. He suited up last season for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL farm club of the Philadelphia Flyers, scoring 19 goals in 55 games.
Now Anisimov isn’t going to be playing on DeBrincat’s line come October 12th, but the 6’4,” 198-pound forward could provide some reasonable size and depth at the AHL level.
And while fans are still freaking out over Sebastian Cossa’s performance in this past weekend’s prospect tournament, I happened to ask Yzerman what he thought about Cossa given his solid ECHL record (26 regular-season wins in 46 appearances and 5 playoff wins in 7 games), and, as Allen notes, Yzerman wasn’t pancking. A little concerned? Maybe. But nothing more:
For his part, Yzerman wasn’t expressing too much concern over Cossa’s sub-par performance.
“He had a tough weekend up in Traverse City,” Yzerman admitted. “That’s okay. It’s early.
“Going back to last year, Sebastian did have a real good year on a very good team in Toledo (of the ECHL). Our hope is he can make a step and have the same type of improvement and same type of performance at the AHL level this season.”
With the Red Wings having gone through what I believe was five goaltenders in Grand Rapids last season, and, given that the Toledo Walleye haven’t officially signed a goaltender as of yet, the Wings have Husso, Reimer and Lyon contending for 2 NHL jobs, and John Lethemon, Cossa and Jan Bednar to fill out their AHL and ECHL affiliates.
Hutchinson is at the very least a warm body to help the team get through an exhibition season in which the Wings play 8 games in 12 nights, if not someone who might help stabilize their goaltending situation should anyone get injured.
