There truly are no off days during the NHL’s six-month regular season. With the Kings on their way to New York for a trio of games this week, Sunday morning saw them make one roster move — and it wasn’t the original plan.
Defenseman Caleb Jones has been placed on waivers. If he clears tomorrow morning, he’ll be loaned to AHL Ontario. Signed to a league minimum deal ($775k) over the summer as a free agent, the 27-year-old rearguard initially made the Kings roster out of training camp, in part because of his versatility of having experience playing both the left and right side of the blueline. He had skated in five games this season, including a contest at Colorado in mid-November where he was injured. Now healthy again, we’ll have to wait 24 hours to see what’s next in his journey.
Other Roster Notes
Jacob Moverare – While the above situation is a bummer for Jones, it’s a corresponding vote of confidence for Moverare. With nine consecutive games already played during his current recall, the 6-foot-3 defenseman is staying up with Los Angeles. It was already well known within Kings circles just how much the organization likes the 26-year-old Swede. After playing parts of three NHL seasons, GM Rob Blake signed him to a two-year extension last March. And with it being a full one-way contract (meaning he earns NHL money while in the AHL), others may see it as a rather unconventional deal for somebody who is perhaps considered a bubble player. However, it shows what he means to the organization. Most recently, he’s played nine games with the Kings and “really helped settle down Jordan Spence,” to hear those around the team explain what he’s brought over that stretch. Moverare isn’t flashy, he just does his job.
Andre Lee – From what we’ve been able to gather, the 6-foot-5 forward will not be recalled for the Kings road trip… at least not yet. For now, coach Jim Hiller is said to be comfortable with the 11+7 configuration used the past two games. As such, the team is traveling with 12 healthy forwards (including the just activated Akil Thomas) and eight defensemen. Should another player be needed while they’re out of town, Lee is expected to be the first guy recalled. For his part, he scored in his return to the Reign lineup last night, tying things up late in regulation. Ontario eventually won in a shootout.
Arthur Kaliyev – As we’ve teased for quite some time, Kaliyev is set to begin his AHL conditioning assignment soon. After skating with his teammates in practice earlier this week, we’re now hearing both sides are targeting later this week the ideal time for him to join the Reign. Assuming he continues to progress over the next few days, Kaliyev should join Ontario in time for their contest against San Jose next Sunday. Conceivably, he could play home games against the Barracuda and Wranglers – a stretch where there are two days off between those games and the back-to-back set against Coachella the following weekend. That would take things up the Christmas break. If needed, he could continue to play for the Reign after the break, as well. That will all be determined after he completes the first stretch of games. During Kaliyev’s first pro season, he skated in 40 games with the Reign, posting 31 points (14 G, 17 A).
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