When Arthur Kaliyev was claimed off waivers by the New York Rangers he reacted to the news by saying, "I didn't expect it, obviously, but it's kind of like a dream come true." He later elaborated that he grew up watching the team and always used to come to games at Madison Square Garden as a kid growing up on Staten Island. This type of story is something Rangers love to root for, and unfortunately injuries cut Kaliyev's time with the team short this season. He is currently a restricted free agent, and with not many players left to take care of we could learn soon if the team is going to keep him around. He deserves another shot, but whether he gets one remains to bee seen.
Kaliyev was originally selected 33rd overall at the 2019 NHL draft, and originally was a player some thought would get drafted in the first round. He stands 6'2", weighs 209 pounds and turns 24 in a couple of days, and his future remains very much ahead of him. Retaining him will cost the Rangers very little, and if he's open to coming back, he has the raw tools which could have a positive effect on the team.
With the Kings, Kaliyev has some modest success in which he scored 35 goals and added 36 assists for 71 points in 188 games averaging 12:08 per game. He appeared in just 14 games with the Rangers and averaged 11:13 a game while skating with a bevy of Ranger forwards.
At times it seemed like Peter Laviolette didn't have a use for him, and he preferred playing "his guys" instead. He logged 153 minutes at 5v5 and posted a 58.74 GF%, a 48.68 CF%, and a 47.48 xGF% in a very limited sample according to numbers found at Evolving-Hockey. He was also worth +4.7sG according to Hockey Viz, and his +0.21 expected goals for per 60 minutes was 9% better than league average. A year prior he had a +3.3 sG, so why not bring him back again and see at the very least if he can continue to flourish?
Arthur Kaliyev, claimed by NYR, is a developing shoot-first winger. Never able to break out of sheltered fourth line minutes with the Kings. Loves chucking one-timers and perimeter shots and has shown some usefulness getting pucks out of the defensive zone. #NYR pic.twitter.com/VZ0UIOnq8U
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) January 6, 2025
Kaliyev ended up on waivers because he lost his spot on the Kings after breaking his clavicle on the second day of training camp. By the time he worked his way back to full health there was no longer a place for him to play, and the Rangers were playing so poorly that they were able to claim him. Joining a team in turmoil must not have been the easiest for the young forward, and with a full offseason of rest and a proper training camp he could be in a better overall situation to succeed.
The Rangers have a number of options for the bottom six currently, but many of them are players who don't have the offensive instincts and ability of Kaliyev. He's a player who scored 126 goals and added 122 assists for 248 points in 192 OHL games (1.29 points per game), and he was successful because of his amazing shot. The fact that Kaliyev attempted 2.5 shots per game and put 21 on goal in his short stint with the Rangers stood out in a big way, because often times the team had a knack of overpassing last season instead of being aggressive. That's something the team needs to double down on next season.
In addition to his shot, he routinely uses his body to shield the puck driving to the net, and isn't afraid to exist in the dirty areas. He is the type of player that could thrive under Mike Sullivan, because the Rangers' newest head coach likes wingers who get involved defensively and use those opportunities to create offense for themselves.
In an ideal world, Kaliyev can be for the Rangers something like what Carter Verhaeghe has become for the Panthers. He won't be an exact replica, but he's an example of a talent OHL player who eventually got more of an opportunity at the NHL level and became a productive contributor.
Verhaeghe averaged 0.82 points per game in the OHL through 262 games, and spent 211 games in the AHL developing to the point he was ready for NHL duty. He tallied 13 points in 52 games as a 24 year old skating 9:22 a night, and the following season recorded 36 points in 42 games. Since that point he's had seasons of 55, 73, 72, and 53 points skating from 16:03 to 17:52 per game. He currently stands 6'2" and weighs 183 pounds, and is easily one of the Panthers' more underrated players.
The long story short here is that Kaliyev has a skillset that can be valuable to the Rangers. He's had some success at the NHL level, and his underlying numbers suggest he can be an effective offensive third liner. With a new coach in the fold he's the type of player the Rangers should take a chance on, especially if they want to try and have a roster similar in construction to the Florida Panthers. It may not work out, but he's a low cost option that's already here. Worse players with less upside have been given opportunities, and it would be a shame if he slipped away and became found gold for another organization.