Los Angeles Kings winger Arthur Kaliyev is reportedly looking to be traded, and Adam Proteau has three teams in mind who have the motivation to go out and acquire the young winger.
Los Angeles Kings winger Arthur Kaliyev is reportedly looking to be traded, and Adam Proteau has three teams in mind who have the motivation to go out and acquire the young winger.
Los Angeles Kings winger Arthur Kaliyev is rumored to want a trade, and while you could point to many teams that would want to acquire the 23-year-old, some teams make more sense than others. In no particular order, here are this writer’s top three potential trade destinations for Kaliyev:
1. Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens are in the midst of a basement-to-ceiling rebuild, and Habs GM Kent Hughes is likely to see Kaliyev as a gamble worth taking. Moving to the Montreal market would put Kaliyev in a more high-pressure environment, but some players need that spotlight to push them to realize their potential, and Kaliyev might be that kind of performer.
Kaliyev’s last contract came with an annual salary of $894,000 and his status as a distressed asset means Hughes won’t have to pay a king’s ransom (pun intended) to acquire him.
The Canadiens are still a couple of years away from being a legitimate Stanley Cup playoff contender, and that gives Kaliyev more landing strip to develop into an above-average NHLer. Hughes can be aggressive in pursuing Kaliyev, and the right combination of draft picks and decent prospects should be enough for Montreal to get a Kaliyev trade done.
Moving to an Original Six market – with the increased expectations that go along with it – could be just what the doctor ordered to boost Kaliyev’s career. Habs fans would be pleased to get another potential long-term piece of the puzzle, and the relatively low price to land Kaliyev would be all the more reason for Montreal to acquire him.
2. San Jose Sharks
Like the Canadiens, the Sharks are a ways away from being a playoff team, and San Jose GM Mike Grier knows full well his job is to amass as many young talents as possible and see how they shake out at the NHL level. Kaliyev probably would welcome remaining in sunny California as a member of the Sharks, and San Jose wouldn’t need him to immediately step in and lead the team in scoring.
Indeed, Kaliyev’s modest totals on offense in 2023-24 – seven goals and 15 points in 51 games – would put him in a middle-six position among the Sharks' forwards, and he likely would be excited to have a chance to play with up-and-coming young centers Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. The lack of intense media pressure in San Jose also could benefit Kaliyev as he does his best to realize his potential in hockey’s best league.
All things considered, the Sharks are a better fit for Kaliyev than the win-now-mode Kings. It’s a matter of Grier and L.A. GM Rob Blake figuring out what mix of draft picks and veterans will be satisfactory for the Kings in a trade as they try and salvage the time and effort they’ve put into Kaliyev as a top prospect.
3. Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche are already over the salary cap ceiling and they still have four roster spots to fill before the season begins. Colorado GM Chris MacFarland has no choice but to go bargain-hunting as he did at this time last year when he signed forward Jonathan Drouin, another player whose stock had fallen significantly before he resuscitated his career with the Avs in 2023-24.
On a team with superstars Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar, Kaliyev could be put in a position where he can show why the Kings picked him at No. 33 overall in the 2019 draft.
It’s true the Avs are like the Kings in that they’re intent on winning now, but Colorado has done a better job of finding diamonds in the rough and staying competitive regardless of who’s filling out their lineup at the bottom end. Kaliyev could prove himself worthy of a third-line winger spot and set himself up for a better payday after his next RFA deal – which would begin this coming season — expires a few years from now.
In the meantime, playing for a legitimate Cup contender like the Avalanche would be received very positively by Kaliyev. He can let MacKinnon and the other Avalanche stars do the heavy lifting while still bringing his own game along slowly but surely.