The Islanders are fifth in the waiver order.
Before the season, we wrote that the New York Islanders should swap Oliver Wahlstrom with Los Angeles Kings Arthur Kaliyev.
Wahlstrom, the Islanders' 11th overall pick in 2018, had struggled mightily to take advantage of his opportunities.
Kaliyev, the Kings' second-round pick in 2019, struggled to do the same.
Flash forward to now, and Wahlstrom is a member of the Boston Bruins after being claimed off waivers in December. 14
On Sunday, the Kings elected to place Kaliyev on waivers, as we'll find out his fate by 2 PM ET on Monday.
Kaliyev has not played a game for the Kings this season after he signed a one-year deal worth $825,000. They have chosen to run 11 forwards and seven defensemen most nights.
The 23-year-old is arbitration-eligible after the season.
Here's why the Islanders, who are fifth in the waiver order, should put in a claim.
With a fully healthy forward group, the Islanders have no spot for Kaliyev.
However, the Islanders could use a forward with Simon Holmstrom day-to-day with an upper-body injury, missing the last three games, and Hudson Fasching leaving their 5-4 overtime win over the Boston Bruins in the second half of the third period due to injury.
Yes, they could just call up their prospect Alex Jefferies, who has eight goals and 13 assists for a weak Bridgeport Islanders team in 28 games.
But I'm not so sure the team believes he's ready to play at the NHL level, which is why he hasn't been called up yet in a season where so many forwards have been hurt.
A Kaliyev waiver claim, a player who has NHL experience, would be a low-risk move for a team that hasn't given up on postseason hope.
If Kaliyev fails at the NHL level, they could just waive him.
The Uzbekistan forward has 71 points (35 goals, 36 assists) in 188 career games.