SALT LAKE CITY — Arthur Kaliyev’s begin to the 2024-25 season was unconventional.
For starters, it didn’t formally start till three video games in the past on Jan. 9, when the 23-year-old wing was dropped into the center of the Battle of the Hudson after getting picked up off waivers by the Rangers three days earlier.
Contemplating the very fact he opened the season on injured reserve with a fractured clavicle, Kaliyev has needed to not solely shake off the rust from lacking the primary three-plus months of the season, but additionally re-acclimate to simply the second NHL workforce he’s ever been a part of.
“I feel it’s slowly getting higher,” Kaliyev mentioned of how he’s settling after collaborating within the Rangers’ non-obligatory apply on the Olympic Oval on Wednesday afternoon. “Feeling a bit of higher every sport. Hopefully, issues hold feeling higher on the market and hold taking part in my greatest in all three zones. Hopefully, I begin getting extra pictures and extra targets, possibly.”
After skating on the precise wing of the third line alongside Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil on Tuesday evening, Kaliyev has already performed with six completely different Rangers. He additionally lined up subsequent to Brett Berard and Jonny Brodzinski in his Blueshirts debut earlier than skating subsequent to Jimmy Vesey and Sam Carrick within the following contest.
All of these elements thought of, Kaliyev is understandably nonetheless getting his bearings.
“We’re getting a glance, we’re making an attempt to get that opinion of his sport,” head coach Peter Laviolette mentioned. “The conversations with him are to work to make an affect, to point out what you’re able to. We all know that he can shoot the puck and he can create. He’s a giant man. He can have that affect in a sport. I feel he’s performed with completely different linemates nearly each sport, so looking for some continuity within a line. I feel that takes a minute or two.
“I do know that he’s a man that may make a distinction offensively and we’d wish to see him attempt to proceed to push that.”
Laviolette introduced up a shot on aim Kaliyev had in opposition to the Avalanche that was “ripped.”
As a result of Kaliyev is thought to have that shoot-first mentality, Laviolette mentioned he wished to see it extra and have Kaliyev discover his approach into the areas the place he can get his shot off.
The adjustment interval, nevertheless, remains to be ongoing for Kaliyev.
Requested how he felt bodily and if he was again to sport form but, Kaliyev mentioned he thinks it’s beginning to come alongside.
“I used to be doing plenty of skating [coming] off my harm,” he mentioned. “I felt higher than I believed I’d. I don’t suppose I’m up there at my greatest but, however it’s getting higher, I feel. Simply getting that timing and feeling again in every single place. It was a very long time I didn’t play.”
With a 53.8 % mark, the Rangers rank second within the NHL in faceoff win share and have been 50 % or higher in 30 of 43 video games thus far this season for a 69.8 % displaying.
The Hartford Wolf Pack is having a Matt Rempe bobblehead-themed evening on Jan. 25.