Los Angeles Kings: Top 3 young players to watch next season
1. Arthur Kaliyev
Even if he doesn’t make his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings next season, Kings fans should be watching what Arthur Kaliyev does next season. With a full 2020-21 season, Kaliyev likely would have made his debut at some point and maybe even challenged for a roster spot right out of training camp.
But these troubling times are likely going to deny the NHL of a “normal” 2020-21 season. Still, Kaliyev might be able to win himself a roster spot out of training camp. Especially if the Kings can find him somewhere to play professionally while the OHL works to get their season going. This would give Kaliyev a huge advantage and help him prepare for the future.
The Kings’ wing depth isn’t great. Kaliyev has the potential to be a huge difference maker there. His defense is a work in progress, but I think he made some huge strides there last season. Kaliyev was noticeably more effective and efficient in the defensive zone.
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His offense, on the other hand, is his calling card. Kaliyev saw his points per game jump from a shade over 1.5 in his draft season to over 1.7 during the 2019-20 season. I honestly don’t think he has anything else to learn in the OHL. That’s another reason why the Kings should try to find somewhere for him to play professionally. Even if it’s a lower-tier European league, Kaliyev is ready to play professionally.