Reports: Kings place forward Arthur Kaliyev on waivers

The Kings have placed forward Arthur Kaliyev on waivers, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The trial for Kaliyev will unfold over the next 24 hours, with his fate learned tomorrow morning at 11.00 Pacific Ocean.

The Kings had to pull a player from their active roster, with Kyle Burroughs set to return from his non-roster designation. Burroughs and his wife, Hayley, recently welcomed their first child, which saw him miss last night’s game against Tampa Bay. He will return this week, though, and that would bring 24 players to 23 roster spots. The Kings made a decision today on Kaliyev, a decision that has been needed for some time now, although we didn’t know ultimately what decision would be made.

If claimed, Kaliyev would remain in the NHL and report to the team that claimed him. That part of the equation is simple.

If he clears waivers, the Kings have three options. The Kings could do nothing to keep Kaliyev on the NHL roster. They could assign Kaliyev to the AHL, with the Ontario Reign back in action next week on Wednesday. Or they could trade Kaliyev, with his value perhaps higher given that the acquiring team could also assign him to the AHL in a 30-day window without having to go through waivers again. Similar situation happened in 2021 when the Kings waived forward Michael Amadio. Amadio cleared and was then traded to Ottawa in exchange for defenseman Christian Wolanin, who had also cleared waivers.

Obviously not the ending that I think anyone would have hoped for here. But that hasn’t worked out with the Kings, and Kailyev is behind several players on the depth chart right now, especially with an 11/7 lineup favored on most nights given the success the Kings have had doing that. Kaliyev is not a fourth line player, at least in the way the Kings would like their fourth line to play, which is the way most contending teams like their fourth line to play. Kaliyev is a higher risk, higher reward player, and if there was the right opening in the top nine, Kaliyev could have made an impact. Jim Hiller has said countless times that what he looks for on the fourth line is “even” play. He wants low-risk players, simple players with a defensive mindset. That’s why prospects like Samuel Helenius and Andre Lee have found success this season. It’s just a different type of player.

Personally, I could see Kaliyev being claimed because it’s a relatively low-risk transaction. If it doesn’t work out with another club, he could simply be waived again. A one-year deal and a low salary cap means most clubs can claim him if they want to take a flyer, and there are certainly tools that could interest another team. If he is not claimed, the most likely option of the three above would be an assignment to the AHL, where Kaliyev could at least play regular games, which is important for a player who has only played five games this season. Could he go down to the AHL, play games in a top six role with the Ontario Reign, be productive and maybe come back if the right opportunity presented itself? Perhaps. If it’s a fresh start, wish him all the best.

As mentioned above, we will learn Kaliyev’s ultimate fate tomorrow at 11 when waiver results come through. Then there will be more.