I believe at this time last year the Kings expected that Kaliyev was going to be on a scoring line this season. But two things happened, they traded for Fiala, and he got passed by Vilardi who just played better. There also haven’t been many injuries to players in the Top 9.
The Kings are up against the cap and they will have to move at least one forward currently ahead of Kaliyev, probably two. And there is no one on the farm that is capable of beating him out for one of those spots.
And the notion that he isn’t valuable because he’s not a two-way player is more lunacy, not every player in the league is going to be a two-way player. You need some hedgehogs on the team that do something at an elite level, not a bunch of foxes who do nothing at an elite level.
Exactly, which is why I find it absurd that folks still get upset when Kaliyev is called a one trick pony. That's who he is, a one-way winger who shoots daggers and gets pucks to the net. No shame in that at all, spades are spades. He is just problematic on a 4th line that should be providing energy and simple, reliable north/south play. He isn't being edged out of the lineup by the mid-lineup multi-faceted play of Iafallo, Grundstrom or Moore or by the physicality of MacEwen, he is kept out by the production of Arvidsson, Fiala, Kempe and Vilardi in those purely offensive roles.
With those four locks for top winger roles next year, Kaliyev is looking at another year of dancing around his potential until Arvidsson likely leaves as a free agent.
And I'll say this until the cows come home, Fiala was an unnecessary acquisition who cost the team two fantastic assets, screwed up the cap and is keeping Kaliyev in purgatory. I know you value pure offense more than I do, but Blake sure showed either an embarrasing lack of faith or just outright impatience with the kids by making that deal.