Los Angeles Kings Shockingly Place Talented Forward on Waivers
The Los Angeles Kings have shockingly placed a talented forward on NHL waivers.
Coming off a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, and preparing to enter a tough stretch against division rivals, the Kings made the surprising decision to put on Arthur Kaliyev the waiver wire.
Insider Elliotte Friedman confirmed the news in a post on X and also reported another move: the Utah Hockey Club claimed defenseman Nick Desimone off waivers.
Here's his post:
It'll be interesting to see how both Kaliyev's and Desimone's situations play out in the coming days.
Kaliyev, drafted 33rd overall in 2019, played 188 NHL games, tallying 71 points in his career. Despite showing promise, he got injured often, which impacted his development. This season, he's played in five AHL games with the Ontario Reign in the AHL.
The Kings are standing at the 2nd rank in the Central Division, six points behind the league-leading Vegas Golden Knights. With 51 points, LA is tied with the Edmonton Oilers, meaning the next few games will be crucial for the team.
As for the defenseman Nick Desimone, 30, played 38 NHL games since making his debut in 2022. He has recorded seven points, including two goals despite being undrafted.
With Utah dealing with several injuries on defense such as John Marino, Sean Durzi, Robert Bortuzzo, and Maveric Lamoureux, Desimone could play a critical role with the team.
However, if things don't work out, the organization won't hesitate to place him on waivers again, just like they did with Dakota Mermis, less than a month after claiming him on waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
