The Kings haven’t had winger Arthur Kaliyev’s services at all this season, at least at the NHL level. After an offseason marred by a trade request and a lengthy contract negotiation, the 23-year-old signed a one-year, $825K deal at the beginning of training camp only to sustain a collarbone fracture two days later.
He was cleared to play earlier this month and was subsequently sent to AHL Ontario on a conditioning loan that can only last two weeks. That mark is approaching on Tuesday, although Ontario doesn’t have another game until after Christmas. After the 2019 second-round pick was limited to one assist in four games over the past couple of weeks, the Kings are requesting an extension for him to remain in Ontario for two more contests through the end of this week, John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor reports.
The lack of goals wasn’t for lack of trying, Hoven notes. The Uzbekistan-born winger had four shots on goal in two separate outings. Shooting the puck has never been a problem for Kaliyev, who averages nearly four shot attempts per game since making his NHL debut in 2020-21 despite averaging around 12 minutes per game. But despite strong production for his usage, averaging 15 goals and 31 points per 82 games, he hasn’t been able to ever earn a legitimate chance outside of a bottom-six role. Last season was especially difficult for Kaliyev, who had his worst offensive showing as a full-time NHLer with seven goals and 15 points in 51 games.
Kaliyev has long desired a change of scenery to a club where he has a better chance of earning a top-six role. Unfortunately for him, the lack of production in his brief AHL stint has likely done nothing to drum up trade interest around the league after the Kings failed to land an acceptable offer over the summer.
If he remains in a slump when he returns to the NHL later this month, he may need to wait until the summer and hope for a non-tender from Los Angeles to allow him to test the open market. The Kings retained his rights by issuing him a qualifying offer in June despite reports suggesting they may do otherwise.