Kings Kaliyev Looking For a Change Per Reports

Amidst this tough stretch of games for the Los Angeles Kings, it's been a very rough go of things for young forward Arthur Kaliyev.

After being healthy scratched on Jan. 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kaliyev has been in and out of the lineup and hasn't played in either of the Kings' last two games.

It was a season that started promising for Kaliyev after a strong training camp but hasn't gone according to plan since. 

Obviously, not in the coach's good graces, Kaliyev is reportedly looking for some changes according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

On Insider Trading, Dreger was asked if Kaliyev was one of a few players looking for a change of scenery.

"Or just change with the team they're with," responded Dreger. "{Kaliyev's} been a healthy scratch multiple times in LA, which also has clubs around the NHL paying attention. Could there be a fit? Could there be an opportunity to move? The Kings have stated that they're not quite interested yet in moving Arthur Kaliyev. But something has to change, this young guy needs to play."

It's hard to ignore the possibility of a Kaliyev trade at this point. As Todd McLellan has pointed out several times before, Kaliyev isn't a prospect anymore and healthy scratches aren't to be expected at this stage of his career.

At this point, it feels like a mismatch with Kaliyev and McLellan. Kaliyev clearly doesn't fit into what the coach wants and isn't playing because of that.

McLellan has been criticized several times in the past for his use of young players, often for good reason, but this feels a little different.

Kaliyev is clearly not a McLellan player. He doesn't have the energy or defensive acumen to play under Todd and isn't producing enough to demand a spot on the team.

These things happen, not every player fits with every coach and that's okay.

My issue with the handling of Kaliyev is more from an organizational standpoint now. What is and was the plan with Kaliyev? This development that he doesn't fit for Todd shouldn't come as a surprise.

He's the same player he's always been, an offensively gifted player who has defensive flaws and doesn't play with a high energy level. 

There's not anything wrong with that necessarily, but that was never going to work with McLellan. 

Even with the strides Kaliyev's made in these areas, and there have been some, it was never going to be enough.

So, why hold onto him this long to the point of devaluation? 

He spent the first two years of his career on the fourth line trying to learn how to be a player he isn't and is now in and out of the lineup because he isn't that player.

The team needed to recognize what they did and didn't have with Kaliyev and make a decision on him sooner. Now you're stuck with a player who doesn't fit on your team and doesn't have much trade value.

The worst of both worlds.

I understand hoping to fit a player with Kaliyev's talents into the roster and the importance of patience, but it was never going to work with McLellan.

Now, it's possible that one the Kings are reportedly not interested in moving on from Kaliyev because there's potential for a new coach within the next six months.

Despite Rob Blake's claims last week, anyone coaching a team with Stanley Cup ambitions is in some trouble when on a streak of 11 losses in 13 games.

Beyond that, if the Kings are bounced in the first round again McLellan is likely gone.

In that case, maybe they feel there's a fit for Kaliyev with a future coach. If the plan is to give it until the summer and decide then, fine, but that decision could have been made on Kaliyev sooner.

The last thing I will point out is that similar conversations happened around Gabe Vilardi two years ago just before his breakout season.

A Vilardi-style breakout isn't impossible for Kaliyev next season under McLellan but does feel unlikely.