Kaliyev throws shade on the Kings after being claimed off waivers by Rangers
The salt is real with this guy.
HockeyFeed
In case you missed the news yesterday, the New York Rangers claimed 23 year old forward Arthur Kaliyev off of waivers from the Los Angeles Kings.
Kaliyev, an Uzbekistan-born forward who grew up on Long Island, NY, is looking forward to a fresh start and a homecoming of sorts with the Rangers.
"I didn't expect it, obviously, but it's kind of like a dream come true," Kaliyev told reporters today. "I grew up watching and obviously living down here for a long time."
"I used to always come watch games here (at Madison Square Garden)," he said. "It's crazy. Not much more words you can say."
As for his time with the Kings, Kaliyev makes it clear that he's happy to have moved on.
"Been looking for it for quite a bit of time," he said.
He has yet to play an NHL game this season, suiting up for just five games with the Kings' AHL affiliate Ontario Reign. It's clear that the heavy shooting forward is itching to get back into an NHL lineup. He's expected to sit out tonight when the Rangers take on the Dallas Stars, but head coach Peter Laviolette maintains that Kaliyev will get into the lineup in short order.
"This is going to be really exciting, get a new, fresh starting opportunity to prove yourself as a player. I'm really excited for this opportunity."
Read below for our earlier report on Kaliyev from Hockey Feed staff writer Jonathan Larrivee, published yesterday as Kaliyev was claimed by the Rangers.
There was a great deal of discussion surrounding the decision by the Los Angeles Kings to place 23 year old forward Arthur Kaliyev on waivers on Sunday, and as some predicted Kaliyev is no longer property of the Los Angeles Kings as of Monday.
National Hockey League insider Frank Seravalli has announced that Kaliyev has in fact been claimed by a rival team with the New York Rangers now adding Kaliyev to their roster. The Rangers were the team with the highest waiver priority to submit a claim for Kaliyev, but it is unclear if any other teams attempted to claim him as well.
Kaliyev was once a highly touted prospect after 3 successful seasons with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League, but his production declined dramatically last season and he has yet to appear in an NHL game this season. Instead Kaliyev has spent his time playing for the American Hockey League's Ontario Reign, making 5 appearances with that team and picking up 1 goal and 1 assist over that stretch.
The Rangers have been desperately looking for a jolt after a terrible run of form, one that includes a record of 3-7-0 over their last 10 games, but it remains to be seen if a fresh start in a new city will allow Kaliyev to unlock the potential that the Kings once saw in him.
The good news here for the Rangers is that this is a very low risk pickup with Kaliyev currently on a 1 year deal that carries an average annual value and cap hit of $825,000.
