Before tonight’s game against the Calgary Flames, the New York Rangers provided an update on Arthur Kaliyev’s status. The forward, born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, will miss the remainder of the season, including the postseason if the Rangers qualify, due to an upper-body injury. Kaliyev’s first partial season with the Rangers has come to an end, leaving the team with a decision on whether to reinsert Juuso Parssinen into the lineup.
Kaliyev, claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings in January, played just 14 games with the Rangers, scoring three goals and adding one assist for four points. While these numbers are underwhelming, the circumstances—including a lengthy break for the Four Nations and an adjustment period after the move from Los Angeles—might explain the slow start. It will likely take next season to get a better sense of what Kaliyev can contribute to the Rangers.
At times, Kaliyev has been a healthy scratch, and with his limited role, it’s hard to definitively say he’ll have a guaranteed spot on the roster next season. Though he’s shown flashes of strong play, his recent struggles have been noticeable, particularly in the Rangers’ bottom six.
It’s possible that injury played a role in his lack of production, but the Rangers will need more from the forward moving forward.
Kaliyev was selected 33rd overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, falling from a projected first-round pick to the second round, which surprised many at the time. His struggles in the NHL might reflect concerns that general managers had when he slipped in the draft. If Kaliyev is to make a bigger impact with the Rangers, he will need to improve next season.
