Is Artem Anisimov On The Move?

As if fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets didn’t have enough worries to wake up to on Wednesday morning. The team had fallen to the Winnipeg Jets, dropping their record to 6-13-2 on the season, and to make matters worse there were rumors swirling that Artem Anisimov could be going to the Edmonton Oilers for David Perron. Which would be a real buzz kill to the #ArtyParty hashtag that has made its way around the twitterverse in the last year or so. Credit the original report to Aaron Ward of TSN, which pains me as a Ohio State fan to do as he is a *ichigan *an.

The Blue Jackets started last season 7-11-3 through 21 games, giving them 3 more points last season through the same amount of games. Fans had to know this type of talk would begin sometime if the team did not start winning; this team is too talented to have every GM in the NHL just leave Jarmo Kekalainen alone when his team is in shambles. The Blue Jackets can’t get out of their own way to win a game, they show flashes of the team we know but always find a way to shoot themselves in the foot and lose.

Mar 14, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Edmonton Oilers left wing David Perron (57) takes the puck up ice against the Detroit Red Wings during the second period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

John Davidson and Jarmo are well aware of David Perron’s talents from his time with the St. Louis Blues, so they should know what they are getting themselves into if a trade is made. When I first heard of the rumors I was taken aback, Arty is a quality forward who can play center or on the wing and he is a smooth skater with great hands. I did not know much about Perron so I looked up his stats from last year – he registered 28 goals and 29 assists while having a -16 rating, which isn’t a surprise on a bad team that lost a lot of games. In total, he produced 18 more points a season ago than Anisimov, but if I had my choice, my first instinct is to keep Anisimov.

Alas, the decision isn’t up to me. Nor is it up to any of the fans, so we will sit and wait to see what Jarmo and JD have up their sleeves. Would Perron’s style of play even fit in with the way this current Columbus Blue Jacket roster plays? Can he play the grinder type of game that this team is known for? Will he forecheck and bust his butt to the puck every shift, these are things that have to be answered because if not this move makes no sense what so ever for the CBJ

The saying was created last year, “In Jarmo and JD we trust” so that is what we are going to do, that is until they make a silly move and thousands of armchair GM’s criticize the move. I would love to hear what other Blue Jacket fans are thinking about this topic, would you rather keep Arty or ship him out for the talents of Perron?