On Sunday, the Los Angeles Kings placed winger Arthur Kaliyev on waivers, a move that would shock hockey experts living in 2021. But the times have changed in Southern California.

The former 2019 33rd overall pick offers a reclamation project for any team looking to add a winger to their depth chart, and the Canucks might be one of them. But for a team like the Kings to give up on a 23-year-old winger so soon tells you just how much his stock has fallen off. Kaliyev is also the latest high-profile selection from the infamous Vancouver-hosted 2019 draft that’s struggled to meet team expectations of late.

Across his 188 NHL games, Kaliyev has notched 71 points but hasn’t been able to maintain his spot in the lineup over the last two seasons under either Todd McLellan or Jim Hiller. Kaliyev’s 2024-25 has been derailed by a broken clavicle suffered during training camp, appearing in just five games for the Ontario Reign so far this season.

If the Canucks were interested in claiming Kaliyev, they’d likely have a few teams in front of them in the waiver wire. And another winger isn’t exactly on the Canucks’ priority list at the moment, but young skaters of Kaliyev’s prior pedigree don’t find their way onto the waiver wire so fast. He was a 100-point player for the Hamilton Bulldogs across his final two junior seasons, and in 2021, Kaliyev was a member of Team USA when they won World Junior gold. He finished tied for second on the Americans in points with fellow King Alex Turcotte.

This pickup would be a clear reclamation project and no guarantee to bear the fruit the Canucks are looking for on the scoresheet. But given the team’s struggles to score, taking a flyer on the sharpshooting Kaliyev makes more sense for Vancouver now than it would have in October. And some fresh blood could provide positive vibes to a locker room that’s currently desperate for some.

As seen on Kaliyev’s NHL Edge page below, he’s by no means a burner, but his shot, which ranked in the 92nd percentile of the league by top speed in 2023-24, has always been his most intriguing weapon.

What might make Kaliyev extra attractive to the Canucks would be his cap hit; for just $825k, the pending restricted free agent is as low-risk a pickup as they come. With Elias Pettersson currently injured, the Canucks could at least use some potential short-term help on offence. Picking up Kaliyev would allow the Canucks to return Phil Di Giuseppe or Max Sasson to the minors (although Sasson’s made a real case for himself on the fourth line), and they could easily hit the undo button if it doesn’t pan out.

While Kaliyev’s pro resume might not match the pedigree of his junior career, he’s young enough that it’s not too late to turn that ship around with the right opportunity. And the Canucks might be just the right team to allow Kaliyev to blossom.

Do you think the Canucks should place a claim on Arthur Kaliyev? Let us know in the comments below!