The Department of Player Safety has decided on a punishment for Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev after he cross-checked Ducks defenseman Josh Mahura in the closing moments of Saturday night’s 4-2 Kings victory. Kaliyev was initially given a major penalty and a game misconduct, but that was obviously not the end of the punishment as the Department of Player Safety has handed Kaliyev a fine of $2,235.42, the maximum allowable under the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Things can get testy between the Kings and Ducks, two heated rivals, but the league has determined that Kaliyev’s actions went too far.
Kaliyev, 20, is a player known more for his goal-scoring prowess than his feistiness or willingness to engage in fine-worthy hockey. But Saturday night was obviously an exception, as his tussle with Mahura has ended in a punishment directly from the Department of Player Safety. Kaliyev was charged with 15 penalty minutes on the play, nearly doubling his season total, which was 22 penalty minutes before the incident with Mahura.
Kaliyev has to consider himself lucky to avoid suspension because the Kings are in a crucial final stretch of their season. They are seeking to put themselves out of reach of the Vegas Golden Knights and finally lock up their spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs, so Kaliyev missing out on an important late-season contest would be a disappointment for the young top prospect. Kaliyev has 14 goals and 27 points in 78 games this season and has flashed a real knack for scoring. Kaliyev, the Kings and the Department of Player Safety are all likely hoping this fine will not be a signal of things to come for the young sniper.
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