Brett Berard thought back to January 2021 when he recalled Artur Kaliyev's shot.
Berard was less than a year away from becoming a prospect with the Rangers, and Kaliyev was two years away from being a second-round pick by the Kings.
In the final minutes of the World Junior Championship semifinal match between Team USA and Finland, Berardo watched from the bench while Kaliyev floated toward the center of the Finland zone, waiting for a pass.
“Within a second, it missed and went into the top corner,” Berard said of the final shot that sent Team USA into the championship game en route to the gold medal.
Kaliyev's release was a decisive strength in his shot-first mentality that continued from his junior days to the NHL, scoring 27 points in 80 games in his first full season with the Kings in 2021-22. He contributed to scoring 28 points in 56 games. next year's game.
But a lineup crisis and injuries diminished his role in Los Angeles, and it disappeared completely this year after returning from a broken collarbone he suffered in the preseason.
As a result, Kaliyev was placed on waivers on Sunday.
The boy, who grew up on Staten Island and attended Rangers games at the Garden, was joined by Berard, K'Andre Miller and Jonathan at the Tuesday morning skate before the Blueshirts' game. He ended up sharing the ice with Quick, three former teammates at the junior and NHL levels. “Stars at the Garden” offers the earliest glimpse of Kaliyev's attempts to reset his career and stay in the regular lineup.
“I wasn't expecting that. [getting waived]Obviously,” Kaliyev said. “But yeah, it feels like a dream come true.”
If Kaliyev can get back on track in the NHL, his shot will likely be at the center of the resurgence. Kaliyev's tenure with the Kings went downhill as his role was eventually reduced in an offseason deal, and he only scored 15 points in 51 games last year.
He then fractured his collarbone early in training camp, and his only ice time since recovery occurred during five AHL games in December.
The Rangers were still figuring out how to get the most out of Kaliyev (who was a healthy scratch against Dallas) after the morning's first skate, but he could certainly make a jolt to a struggling roster. .
Kaliyev described himself as a player who can bring “almost everything” to Rangers. the goal. It's a chance. Presence in the defensive zone. Everything. And as expected, his shot will remain the core of his skill set once he gets the hang of it.
Asked how long it would take to adjust to Kaliyev's new system, Laviolette said, “You have to get to the point where the puck is on your stick and you can shoot it.” “So there's a lot more to it, like getting out of there, getting out of the neutral zone, getting into the attack zone, how do you collect it, how do you go about your business. There's more to that, but… There's no question he has a heavy shot and is capable when the puck is on his stick.”
Kaliyev could make his Rangers debut at the Garden as early as Thursday, playing for the team he watched as a child and skating at the venue he attended.
He has played against MSG three times and recorded an assist in the Kings' game against the Blueshirts in February 2023, but this time is different.
He'll be able to have Quick, the first Ranger to text him after the team waived him, guard the net again, just as he did in his first season plus in Los Angeles.
Berard saw Kaliyev's potential and ended up sharing the bench with him. The same goes for Miller, his teammate at the 2020 World Juniors.
All of these overlaps occurred before Kaliyev's career stagnated. But then he got the “fresh start” he wanted — another shot at proving he can keep his NHL role.
“I've been looking for it for quite some time,” Kaliyev said.
