Arthur Kaliyev possesses a valuable skill that the New York Rangers could benefit from more. However, the 23-year-old, who was claimed off waivers by the Rangers on Monday, also has significant weaknesses in his game that might restrict his opportunities with the new team.
This perspective comes from Dennis Bernstein, an NHL insider for The Fourth Period based in Los Angeles, who has closely observed Kaliyev’s first four seasons with the Kings.
“The player is quite one-dimensional,” Bernstein remarked on the Rink Rap podcast presented by Forever Blueshirts. “There are one-dimensional players in the league, but they need to excel in that role. While Arthur has an excellent shot, his skating and defensive skills are lacking, and he often overlooks essential details.”
Kaliyev’s impressive shot was a key factor in his selection during the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft (No. 33). He scored 51 goals in 67 games with Brantford in the Ontario Hockey League in 2018-19 and netted another 44 goals in 57 games the next season. His powerful release secured a game-winning goal for the USA against Finland in the semifinals of the 2021 World Junior Championship, contributing to the U.S. winning the gold medal that year.
Despite his challenges over three seasons with the Kings, Kaliyev has a standout ability: his shot. Yet Bernstein remains skeptical about his overall potential.
“I don’t see Artie becoming a 25-goal scorer in this league because I don’t believe he can handle top-six minutes due to his speed and defensive play,” he asserted. Bernstein drew a comparison to Daniel Sprong, who has scored 87 goals across 363 NHL games for six teams since the 2015-16 season. Kaliyev has scored 35 goals in 188 NHL games, with his highest being 14 in his rookie season, half of which came from power plays.
With Chris Kreider placed on injured reserve on Tuesday, there’s a possibility for Kaliyev to join a line featuring Mika Zibanejad and Reilly Smith, at least initially. However, he won’t be appearing in the game against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, despite participating in the morning skate. Jonny Brodzinski will fill Kreider’s position in that match, but Kaliyev might have a role against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
“The best scenario would be to place him in the bottom six, give him power-play time, and hope for some production,” Bernstein suggested. “At his best in LA, Artie was likely a player getting 12-13 minutes a night and scoring 10-12 goals.”
Bernstein’s evaluation of Kaliyev’s addition may not be overly positive, but he acknowledges that a change was necessary. He believes that Kaliyev will be “super motivated” to return to New York, where he grew up and played with the Jr. Rangers.
A fresh start is essential after Kaliyev’s request for a trade from the Kings last season, rendering him “persona non grata” with the team. Bernstein noted that the Kings attempted to trade him during the 2024 draft in Las Vegas but were unsuccessful.
“Trust has to be mutual. Players need to trust coaches, and vice versa, but there wasn’t that trust with Kaliyev last season,” he explained, referencing the two different coaching styles he experienced under Todd McLellan and Jim Hiller.
Another significant hurdle for Kaliyev this season is his lack of NHL game time; he broke his clavicle on the first day of training camp and has played only five games during an AHL conditioning stint, tallying one goal and one assist.
Thus, embedding him into the Rangers’ lineup won’t be straightforward.
“You have to adjust your expectations with him,” Bernstein concluded.
