As the New York Rangers prepare for a crucial stretch of games to start the month of February, they may see some tweaks in the lineup for the first time in a while heading into their Original Six matchup against the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
Arthur Kaliyev was off to the side for the majority of line rushes during practice Thursday, indicating that he could be a healthy scratch against Boston. Jonny Brodzinski took his place on the third line, and may slot into the lineup for the first time since Jan. 11.
Kaliyev has had ups and downs with the Rangers since being claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings. In 10 games this season, he’s scored two goals and added an assist, and is plus-2. Largely playing on the third line with center Filip Chytil, Kaliyev has an xGF of 52.77 percent 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick.
But after the Rangers lost consecutive games in regulation for the first time in 2025, coach Peter Laviolette is looking to change things up. And it apparently starts with Kaliyev, who recorded two shots on goal on 15 shifts in a 4-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday and is still finding his footing after missing more than three months after fracturing his clavicle in training camp.
“He’s a guy that’s coming from injury and coming to a new team,” Laviolette said Thursday. “I think there’s been times when he’s been good, he’s been productive. I think there’s room for growth, and then there’s things that he’s done well for us as well. He can shoot the puck, he scored some goals. He’s part of a group that had a pretty successful month. I wish it ended different, but I think there’s been some good things.”
Perhaps Kaliyev’s best game was on Jan. 21, a 5-0 win over the Ottawa Senators. The 23-year-old forward had a goal, and even scored another that was called back after video review for an offside. Since then, however, his play along with the rest of the third line consisting of Filip Chytil and Chris Kreider has seen a dip in production.
Arthur Kaliyev could be healthy scratch, still ‘getting up to speed’
Looking to switch things up, Laviolette may be bringing in Brodzinski to give more speed and battle to the third line. Brodzinski has played well when called upon this season, with three goals and three assists as well as a plus-4 rating in 20 games, though his xGF is 0.43 at 5v5.
As for Kaliyev, don’t expect him to be out of the lineup for long. After missing a substantial amount of time with that injury, some games spent as a healthy scratch could prove more beneficial than detrimental.
“I think getting the pace up to speed and the battles, sometimes it takes some time if you haven’t been involved in it for a stretch of time,” Laviolette explained. “I think those are areas that we talk to him about and show him. Just the speed of the game and the compete in the battles. There’s been times when it’s been good as well and he’s used it to his advantage to gain opportunities to get his shot off, which we feel is excellent, so it’s just getting up to speed.”
The Rangers have a very important stretch of games coming up, so it is important that whoever slots into the lineup is at the top of his game. New York plays Boston twice over the next three games. Boston currently holds the first wild card in the Eastern Conference, four points ahead of New York.
The Rangers sit just three points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who hold the second wild card. With five important games in eight days ahead of the 4 Nations Faceoff, beginning Saturday in Boston, Kaliyev likely will see his fair share of action, even if it’s not on Saturday.
