Joe Patarino 
The 2023-24 season for LA Kings winger Arthur Kaliyev has been a trying one. After an encouraging 2022-23 season where he scored 13 goals and 28 points in 56 games, the 22-year-old winger has appeared in 47 games this season, tallying just six goals and eight assists. He has seemingly fallen out of favor under both head coaches this season, spending more time than ever in the press box. In the team’s last 15 games, Kaliyev has suited up for just seven of them.
For a team struggling to score goals, does it make sense to continue to sit one of their few natural snipers?
We’ll start by looking at his most common linemates this season via Natural Stat Trick:
| Player | CF% With | xGF% With | On-Ice SH% |
| Pierre-Luc Dubois | 57.34 | 62.22 | 5.5 |
| Phillip Danault | 60.73 | 61.6 | 9.91 |
| Alex Laferriere | 56.49 | 59.23 | 4.4 |
Kaliyev has spent most of his time in the middle-six and his on-ice metrics at 5-on-5 are certainly not bad. As has been the case with seemingly anyone on Pierre-Luc Dubois’ line, the on-ice shooting percentage is in the tank (aided by Kaliyev’s career-low individual shooting percentage of 3.85%). But as far as controlling possession and shot quality? No problems there.
In fact, among LA Kings players who have played at least ten games, check out the leaders in on-ice CF% and xGF%:
| Player | CF% | Player | xGF% | |
| Arthur Kaliyev | 57.69 | Jacob Moverare | 60.63 | |
| Phillip Danault | 57.43 | Arthur Kaliyev | 59.94 | |
| Trevor Moore | 57.36 | Brandt Clarke | 59.42 | |
| Kevin Fiala | 56.9 | Kevin Fiala | 59.31 | |
| Brandt Clarke | 56.66 | Trevor Moore | 59.03 |
(Side note: I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about some of the other names on those lists…)
Over the past two seasons, Kaliyev leads the LA Kings in ixGF/60:
| Player | ixG/60 |
| Arthur Kaliyev | 1.03 |
| Trevor Moore | 0.97 |
| Alex Laferriere | 0.95 |
| Carl Grundstrom | 0.9 |
So at the very least, his on-ice numbers aren’t anywhere near bad enough for that to be a justification for why he’s not in the lineup.
Often, we hear of his defensive deficiencies. Could that be the case? Well, two different models suggest he grades out just fine defensively:
That last player card may give us a hint as to what it could be.
I have opined in the past that the LA Kings are a rush-offense team (evidence below) but Arthur Kaliyev isn’t necessarily a rush-offense type of player.
Kaliyev isn’t known for his strong skating, particularly his north-south speed. If you look at the Andy & Rono player card above, his transition play is quite poor. When cross-referencing that with some data from All Three Zones, it checks out:
Per the All Three Zones tracking, Kaliev is below average in controlled entries and among the lowest in the NHL in zone entries that lead to scoring chances this season.
It’s always felt like something has just been missing with Kaliyev. But the more we unpack things, perhaps he’s just not a stylistic fit for how the LA Kings play hockey.
Additionally, for whatever reason, his power play impacts aren’t as good this season. As we see below from HockeyViz, his shots on the power play are coming from further out than last season:
And yet, even if he isn’t a stylistic fit, he’s still fourth on the team in primary assists/60 minutes at 5-on-5.
Looking ahead, one has to wonder what the future holds for Kaliyev in Los Angeles. He was mentioned on numerous occasions on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast by Elliotte Friedman as wanting a change of scenery. As a Restricted Free Agent at the end of the season, there’s likely going to be plenty of trade speculation again this summer. There remains intriguing upside with Kaliyev, but if he doesn’t fit the LA system then it may make sense for the team to move on.
In the short term, with Alex Turcotte‘s status uncertain, this may present an opportunity for Kaliyev to get back into Jim Hiller‘s good graces. This could be his last chance to make a good impression with the organization.
Data via: Natural Stat Trick, HockeyViz, Evolving Hockey, Andy & Rono
Main Photo Credit: Lucas Peltier
I think the Kings brass have mismanaged Kaliyev big time !!! One thing the article didn’t mention is what mismanagement is doing mentally with this kid. I just don’t understand. The prior two years he was playing in almost every game and he seemed to have a spot on the Kings for years to come. Yes, I know some prospects have come in and have possibly been taking some of his ice time, but what has changed in Kaliyev’s game ? What is it exactly that has made him fall out of the coaches good graces so much ? Is there something behind the scenes that occurred ? Is it his attitude ? All I know is Kings brass are harming him mentally by sitting him. Many, many nights I would prefer Kaliyev to Trevor Lewis anmongst others. Bringing him in for a game here or there isn’t going to get him going either. Last, this isn’t the type of player the Kings want to trade away cuz I guarantee he will be a King Killer when he returns and plays against us. If I had to bet, I think they package him with Turcotte in the summer in a deal. All I know is unless we are missing something behind the scenes, Kings brass are the ones to blame with Kaliyev. He needs a little more nurturing, not making him the villain. I’d be soured if I were him. I just wish we could get a real answer from coaches for sitting Kaliyev so much this year. The stats you gave seem to support Kaliyev in most cases. They have plenty of north south driving players. Kings just aren’t willing to work with the kind of player Kaliyev is. They want him to adjust to their system not the other way around. Kings are being to authoritarian and are unwilling to let a sniper be a sniper.
He will be appreciated by another team for the skills he already has. I like Hiller and was hopeful Kaliyev would get back on the ice with him. Hiller appears to feel the same way as Tmac did.
Love your comments ❤️
100% agree with your assessment!
Have always liked kaliyev but seems that kings management is too weak minded to know what they have in him. Kings mgmt has always had blinders on.
Let’s get one thing straight. He’s not a snipe in the NHL. Definitely at the lower levels he was. He’s a BAD skater and has no motor. That’s a bad combination. Turcotte , Grundstrum, and Lizotte are better players. I say that because they have motors and desire and I don’t even like having Lizotte on the team. For both coaches to make him a healthy scratch there is definitely something they see. I believe we call it, A Lack of Effort.
Have always liked kaliyev but seems that kings management is too weak minded to know what they have in him. Kings mgmt has always had blinders on.
Offer him a minimum salary next year.
He can sit if he don’t like it or risk being in the middle of the wars in Europe.
Ya McLlelan did not handle him well and his confidence was shot.
But Hiller is very stat oriented and you can’t argue that he has the Kings playing well.
The 11/7 is just another nail in the coffin.
I personally think Kaliyev is somewhere on the special needs spectrum, no offence.
That does not help when times are tough.
He needs to work on his skating with Byfields old skating coach.
What hurt Kaliyev was opening his mouth about not playing. Tmac even referenced it in a post game interview. He compared him to JAD. Pointing out how some just stfu about sitting and ate ready when they are called. I wish I could find the clip. But that would be a lot of work. If Arty could adopt a meaner attitude on the ice. It could help immensely. He needs to drive as the King’s are finally doing. Then again you have to play to do it. His last game I felt he was really soft. Then again he’s probably so scared to make a mistake that he really can’t play his game. As you see in a lot of rookies. Which is what this staff has done to him this year. To start the season Tmac was praising him. Holding a spot on the second line. Then Fiala didn’t mesh with PLD so Kaliyev was dropped down. Then PLD wasn’t producing so Kaliyev gets bumped down again. From there it was the doghouse. We better hold on to him. He will be in the NHL. The question is will he be a King or as stated above. A King killer. The Caps held on to Ovi just for his shot. They made it work until Ovi became more than a goal scorer. Even now though Ovi still has faults to his game. But is also very close to the NHL lead in goals all-time. No Arty isn’t the next Ovi. But even if he’s half a Ovi. That’s not really a bad thing at all to have. Pair him with a couple of forwards that can defend. Hopefully we can see him develop into a premier threat. Instead if a King killer.
You yourself said it right there, PLD didn’t have any chemistry with Fiala, who was also struggling to start the season, so they demoted KALIYEV. then PLD (the most overrated and overpaid player in the league and a terrible trade) was still not producing so they demoted KALIYEV again. Can you say scapegoat? Enough said.
He needs inspiration… like perhaps in MTL… he is under a million lol Habs will send you someone nice for him… 8) __~
Stats don’t tell the whole story with Kaliyev. When you focus on him in game. He doesn’t play tough in the corners, not good in the neutral zone and not a forecheckng force. When he is set ,his shot is awesome. The kings style is a quick,foreching game offensively and position defensively. He is not the type the kings are looking. He is young and may not be king killer if they trade him to the east. He has got to work harder to stay in the NHL. Good Luck Artie.