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LA Kings Select Arthur Kaliyev No. 33 – What You Need to Know

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With the No. 33 selection in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft the Los Angeles Kings selected OHL forward Arthur Kaliyev.

So, two forwards and one defenseman in their first three picks. Sounds about right.

Early notes:

Our original profile on Kaliyev is available here:

2019 NHL Draft Preview: Arthur Kaliyev, OHL Forward

We’ll post updates in this article throughout the morning.

For now, here’s some info you need to know:

Vitals

Date of Birth: June 26, 2001
Height: 6’2
Weight: 194 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Right Wing/Left Wing

Statistics

2018-19 Season

Kaliyev spent his entire 2018-19 OHL season on the Hamilton Bulldogs, where he scored 102 points (51 G, 51 A) in 67 games – which led his team and tied the entire league for sixth overall. He also had two points (1 G, 1 A) in 4 playoff games, as his team was swept in the first round. While representing the United States at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Kaliyev notched six points (3 G, 3 A) in five games – good for second on Team USA; although they were unable to earn a medal.

Awards for 2018-19 Season:

***

Scouting Reports:

From the Draft Analyst

The draft’s top goal-scoring prospect from North America, Kaliyev has produced two outstanding seasons in the OHL leading up to his big day in June. Blessed with size and a terrific shot-release combination, the Staten Island native is his league’s leading finisher, averaging close to a goal per game. Last season, Kaliyev played a key role for Hamilton during their drive to the Memorial Cup. But today he is a game-changer who can carry an attack pretty much by himself. He never met a shooting opportunity he didn’t like, and the velocity he generates on shots off his back foot or off balance is a sight to behold. Goaltenders have a tough time getting a read on him when he has the puck inside one of the circles because he’s nimble dart inside and fire shots from the slot. Simply put, Kaliyev is the straw that stirs Hamilton’s drink, and he alone accounts for a significant portion of its offense. Can he be more on the competitive side? The optics say an up-and-down effort level and unwillingness to engage in physical battles on a consistent basis are the only two things keeping from being a legitimate top-10 option at the draft.

Kaliyev’s dominance at prospect showcases and tournaments certainly reinforces the belief that he can be a game-changing scorer at the highest level. He has soft hands to handle passes near the goal or from long distances, and Kaliyev rarely shoots pucks back into the goalie on cross-crease tap-in attempts. What he does outside the offensive zone is more pedestrian, but in the end, you want your goal scorers to sling pucks on net with both accuracy and authority, which is exactly what Kaliyev does better than any draft-eligible winger.

From Future Considerations

A solid skater with good stride power, Kaliyev boasts an accurate and elite shot and has the instincts of a natural goal scorer. Among the best in the class in finding the back of the net. He has average foot speed that holds him back in puck races. Although he won’t wow anyone with explosiveness, he is well balanced on his feet and has a solid top speed when he
gets going. Dangerous with the puck on his stick, he uses his frame to protect the puck
well and possesses a nose for the net. Shows better vision and patience on the cycle and finding open teammates across the zone. Plays a power forward game when he’s engaged, finishing his hits and using his size to open up space in the soft areas of the offensive end. Has a very quick release on his shot with great accuracy, making him a threat to score off the rush or use a defender as a screen for his wrist shot. He gets into open space really well in the offensive zone which helps his teammates feed him the puck. Scouts have reservations about his work ethic and his play in his own end. His compete level seems lower than some of his peers as he is the last to forecheck, backcheck and get involved in any kind of physical battle. There seems to be disinterest in engaging on that front. That being said, he has a good reach on the backcheck and will help support his defenders low in the zone when necessary.

From McKeen’s

The biggest argument in last year’s draft class centered on mercurial
defenseman Ryan Merkley. He had abundant talent, but there were so many
questions about his attitude and aptitude, that some teams would not touch
him. This year, no player will be dissected in so many ways as Kaliyev. Born in
Uzbekistan, but raised in New York City, he can be infuriating to watch, but he
does one thing really, really well and that one thing is a thing that every team
needs to win, He scores goals. Tons and tons of goals.
He scored 31 as a first-year player with a champion Hamilton team, although
he was quieter in the OHL playoffs and ineffectual in the Memorial Cup. In his
follow up campaign, he lit the lamp 51 times, exactly equal to his assist total.
This is not an apples to apples comparison, but the only draft eligible player at
any level, in any league, who had more than Kaliyev’s 102 regular season points
was Jack Hughes. He comes by those points honestly too. This isn’t a case of
a player capitalizing on a great opportunity. He has been a power play trigger
man from the day he pulled a Bulldogs sweater over his head. He has a heavy
slap shot, a wicked one timer, and rounds off the arsenal with above average
snap shots and wrist shots. He is skilled at getting open in the offensive zone
to allow his gifts to be utilized.

For as powerful and prolific as his shot is, Kaliyev is also a skilled passer,
something that has improved from last season to this one. As his reputation
precedes him, defenders flock to him and sensing the walls closing in, he can
squeeze the puck through a small seam to a teammate on the far side, forcing
the defense and the netminder into a disadvantage as they have to change
direction and are susceptible to a quick release.

Further in the plus column for Kaliyev is his large, heavy frame, which gives
him an advantage in puck battles along the boards, and by the opposing crease.
Then again, that large, heavy frame is also one of his drawbacks as a prospect.
He can present himself as a sluggish skater. He lacks much explosiveness in his
legs and his top speed is so-so on a good day, although he can play with decent
agility. But this limitation, which may be physical, is not why he is a frustrating
prospect.

Not being fast is unfortunate, but not moving one’s feet is enough to bring a
coach to anger and to cause a scout to move on to the next game. If he loses
a puck battle along the boards, he may just give up on the play altogether,
and sulk for a moment while the opposition flies back to his zone. All of the
effort that he showed when he still had a chance to grab the puck is gone and
he eventually slow walks back to his zone, the last man to join the defensive
effort.

If hockey was played like football, with different units on the ice for offense
and defense, there would be no questions about Kaliyev. Considering that shifts
can run the full 200-foot range of the ice, his effort needs to be more stable
throughout. Some teams may see a poor man’s Ovechkin and rank Kaliyev as a
top 10-12 pick. Others will mark him as a “non-draft” and focus elsewhere.

From HockeyProspect

Coming Soon

Highlights:

RELATED CONTENT:

DAY TWO: LA Kings Predictions for Draft Rounds 2-7

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