In case I don't make it clear - by and large, I don't care about numbers. Especially for low-value contracts. I don't care if he put in 15, 10, 5, or 1. I was one of the staunchest Byfield supporters when he "only" put up 30 points.
I'll try not to ramble. But with my focus on prospects, I care about growth of their game. Are they stronger on the puck? Do they generate chances for others? Are they building on their tools? How intense is their level of play?
Kaliyev simply did not grow in any of those areas. And in the areas where he was strongest, he wasn't doing well either. I don't think he was just snake bitten. Sure, he had some whiffs on chances, but how often did he create those scoring chances? Were his shots from dangerous areas? Is he using variety in his shots? Are they creating rebounds? To me, he wasn't.
He was suspended from a reckless hit, but beyond that, how often did he hit? How sharp were his turns? How fast are his feet moving?
Those were things within his control. Was he understandably frustrated with the org? Maybe. You can argue it. I don't know his feelings but I can understand if he has a negative sentiment. But I also know that orgs have dinosaurs who just assume he's a one-dimensional kid with no heart.
The lack of production from a one-dimensional player isn't an issue with me if I am seeing improvement in execution. And you can do that on the first or fourth line. That's on him. It's why I also harp on Fiala. He keeps making the same errors, though he gets credit for toning down the selfish penalties.
So by your logic, he just "figured it out" going to New York then?
It isn't like this front office doesn't have a track record of having trouble communicating with younger players going back to the end of the previous regime (Erik Cernak being afraid.)
That still continues to today, with no one telling Turc his ice time was limited his first game back from injury.
Or players being miscast in roles they shouldn't be in, Durzi on the PK, drafting and signing 50 centers but forcing them all to play wing, Fagemo as exclusively a 4th liner while JAD amd Lewis play in the top 9.
Or continuing to make poor player evaluations at the NHL level like trading for PLD, and Fiala, then being all shocked when they don't fit into the system.
Or continuing to be unable to develop a goalie of any kind, Cal imploded, Villalta was nothing, Portillo is 24 and splitting time with Copley in the AHL.
But that's fine they can at least develop other position players... Oh, Bjornfot and JAD never looked better than their rookie years. They actively tried to have Turc murdered in the AHL by putting him there too early. Every prospect that has become a Kings regular either came to them NHL ready (Byfield, Clarke, Laf, Anderson) or was diluted into a JAG in the AHL.
But it's fine maybe they have a plan for what the team should be... Oh right first it was high skill, high speed but then they hired Todd and he ran the 1-3-1 to the teams detriment despite having a high skill, high speed roster. Then they needed more grit and now they'veabandoned the 1-3-1... Does every move seem to be reactionary based on what little criticism there is from the media?
Then they did their due diligence when hiring the new coach... Oh right, Hiller was the only guy they talked to.
Well at least they fixed the special teams being an issue... Oh, lord.
That's quite the track record of just bad decisions, nepotism, and just poor judgment.
But yeah, Kaliev was the problem. *makes jerk off motion in the air.
