An intriguing name was placed on the NHL’s waiver wire on Sunday afternoon.
The Los Angeles Kings waived Arthur Kaliyev at 2 pm ET.
The 23-year-old winger was the Kings’ second-round selection (33rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft. Kaliyev has played parts of four NHL seasons recording 35 goals and 71 points in 188 regular season games. In nine postseason games, Kaliyev has been held pointless.
Kaliyev has not played in any of the Kings’ 38 games this season because of injury.
After negotiating a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Kings, just days ahead of training camp, Kaliyev suffered a fractured clavicle while battling with defenceman Kyle Burroughs on the second day of camp.
The winger was recently loaned to Los Angeles’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, for a five-game conditioning stint before today’s news. In those five games, Kaliyev recorded a goal and an assist.
Kaliyev’s connection to the Senators goes back to his draft year when the Senators used the 32nd overall selection to take centre Shane Pinto. In the Central Scouting Bureau’s final rankings, Pinto was the 28th-ranked North American skater, while Kaliyev ranked seventh.
Kaliyev’s offensive production in the OHL drove his draft value. Widely praised and renowned for his NHL-ready shot, he tallied 51 goals and 102 points in 67 games during his draft-eligible 2018-19 season.
Since turning professional, Kaliyev has struggled to replicate that offensive impact. His shortcomings — pace, attention to detail away from the puck and lack of physicality — have diminished his worth and put him in an unenviable spot. His coaches do not trust him enough to play top-six minutes and believe his overall skill set is unfit for a bottom-six role.
Kaliyev will be looking for a fresh start following a difficult 2023-24 season in which he set a career low in goals (7), points (15) and games played (51). His struggles led to several healthy scratches, and his name was circulated in NHL trade circles.
A trade obviously never came to fruition, but he will likely find a new home now.
He may even land in Ottawa.
The Senators’ hockey ops group has first-hand experience with Kaliyev. He won an OHL championship in 2018 and spent three years with Michael Andlauer and Steve Staios as part of their Hamilton Bulldogs. The front office will have a familiarity and intimate knowledge of his strengths and weaknesses.
The Senators have also shown comfort in using a similar player, Adam Gaudette, at the top of their lineup.
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