Los Angeles Kings Should Give Kaliyev Another Look – Hockey Writers – Los Angeles Kings

A few months ago, several NHL insiders reported that Los Angeles Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev was unhappy and had requested a trade to Los Angeles. There was plenty of time for general manager Rob Blake to make this trade but no move was ever made.

Acquiring a former second-round pick with only three seasons in the NHL under his belt would be a low-reward, high-reward kind of situation for any team. Considering Kaliyev's recent season and the fact that he was healthy in many ways, Amakhosi would not have the power to make it easy for teams to bite the bullet and play him again. The 23-year-old is currently out of contract. The three-year contract Kaliyev signed back in 2020 expired at the end of last season. He is currently a restricted free agent (RFA) which gives Los Angeles full control over whether or not he returns as a King.

Kaliyev Achieved Early Success as King

Kaliyev was drafted 33rd in 2019 and ranked No.25 in Athletic's 2021 prospect rankings (from 'NHL top 50 prospects, 2021 edition,' AthleticAugust 16, 2021). The 2020-21 season was a big one for the Uzbekistan-born midfielder. He scored in his first and only game as a King that season and had a productive year in the American Hockey League with the Ontario Reign, finishing under a point per game with 14 goals and 31 points in 40 games. It was the same season he played a major role in leading the United States World Juniors team to a gold medal, collecting eight points in seven games.

Things have been going well for Kaliyev as his success and production levels in the AHL have rewarded him with the opportunity to take that next big step. He played 80 games for the Kings in 2021-22 and finished the season with 14 goals and 27 assists. Those are excellent numbers for a second-round pick playing in his first NHL season.

Development was a common theme for Kaliyev during the three years. He was following the trail every team hoped their top prospects would follow, and he continued to improve and improve each season. Kaliyev finished his 2022-23 campaign with one more point than last season but the difference is that he played 24 fewer games.

What is shocking is that all this progress seemed to disappear last season when he was playing in the press box. Kaliyev went from producing 0.5 points per game in 2022-23 to a healthy scratch and only managed seven goals and 15 points in 51 games. The decline in production was astronomical and no wonder he was sitting a lot.

What Factors Led to Kaliyev's Struggle and What Can Be Done to Change That

Kaliyev has had a tough season but most of it may have been out of his control. According to Natural Stat Trick, his most common teammate last season was Pierre-Luc Dubois. Playing on the line with 2023-24 Dubois speaks for itself and if the effort isn't there from his teammates it's easy to lose focus. He also spent good time playing with Alex Laferriere and Phillip Danault. Laferriere was still learning the ropes and getting comfortable as an NHLer so it's unfair to criticize why the production levels were low when they played together. Playing with Danault meant playing with Trevor Moore most of the time which seemed to suit Kaliyev. He had seven points in 10 games to start the 2023-24 season playing on a line with Danault and Moore.

For reference, Kaliyev spent 182:40 minutes against Dubois and the Kings had only seven goals. He spent 131:25 minutes playing with Moore and Amakhosi had 11 goals. The GF% (goals percentage) when Kaliyev was on the ice with Moore was 73.33% compared to only 53.85% when playing with Dubois.

On-ice factors are one thing, but when a young player is constantly being scratched and sitting in the press box when things go wrong, it takes a toll on the mind and steals confidence. it is difficult for young players to get out of the top if their focus is on getting scratched.

Kaliyev has never been known for his ability to drive plays and his skating is the weakest part of his game. He is good at finding open spaces in the offensive zone and his release is deadly. He's a natural shooter who doesn't need a lot of time and space to get his stick out. For a player like Kaliyev to be very successful, he needs to be surrounded by fast skaters, players who can use their speed to throw defenders and allow Kaliyev to find his opening in the offensive zone. Moore has some speed so it's no surprise that the two can click so well.

Related Link: Analyzing the Kings Heading into the 2024-25 Season

If Kaliyev is given another shot at the Kings, there are a few players who could give him a better chance to bounce back and be the scoring threat the Kings desperately need from their entire squad. Pairing him with Danault and Moore could be an option as it seemed to work for a while last season.

Another possibility is to put him in the priority with Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala. Being able to play against a center like Byfield is what Kaliyev needs to regain his confidence. Byfield's exceptional skating and ability to get into the offensive zone and move the puck will complement Kaliyev's finishing gift perfectly. Adding the speedy Fiala – who can also score and use his flexibility to create space – would give Kaliyev all he could ask for and the Kings have a very talented offensive line. It is important for the coaching staff and management to recognize what certain players need in order to be successful. Surrounding Kaliyev with top talent in a top-six role is the best way to see how much they can get out of him.

If that doesn't work then the argument to move away from him will be strong, but it is close to Amakhosi giving up on a player like Kaliyev. With the production and progress he has had in his first two seasons, the conditions he had to endure last season, and the fact that Amakhosi need other goal scorers, there is no reason why he should not be given another shot.