L.A. Kings Place Former Top Draft Pick on Waivers & Now the Vancouver Canucks Have a Major Decision to Make

The 2nd round pick in 2019 was once considered a top prospect, and showed promise early in his NHL career before struggling to find consistent ice time with the Kings.

In his second full NHL season, Kaliyev posted 13 goals and 15 assists in 56 games, good for half a point a game, but his production tailed off last season with just 15 points in 51 games.

The Uzbekistan-born winger has spent time with the Reign already on a conditioning stint, he missed the first two months of the season after suffering a broken clavicle in training camp.

Since his return playing in the AHL he has a goal and an assist in 5 games.

The Kings once hoped Kaliyev could be a top goal scorer for their team, as he scored over 50 goals and 100 points in the OHL as a U18 player.

They're doing well without him though, sitting second in the Pacific division.

At just 23 years old, Arthur Kaliyev still has some promise as a player, and could provide some potential depth scoring for a team like the Vancouver Canucks who could benefit from some more goals in their bottom six.

With the Canucks sitting 20th in the waiver priority order however, they may not get the chance to take a shot with Kaliyev.

The Canucks last successful waiver claim was in October.

With Kaliyev's name appearing on the waiver wire, another name was plucked from Saturday.

Nick DeSimone, a 30 year old defenseman, was claimed by the Utah Hockey Club after being waived by the New Jersey Devils a few days after Utah lost Dakota Mermis.