The NHL’s Department of Player Safety is getting in some preseason work. The league has scheduled a hearing with Los Angeles Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev for kneeing Chase DeLeo of the Anaheim Ducks.
Kaliyev was assessed a minor penalty for kneeing by referees Graham Skilliter and Graedy Hamilton.
From Rule 50:
Kneeing is the act of a player leading with his knee and in some cases extending his leg outwards to make contact with his opponent.
The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a minor [or major] penalty, based on the severity of the infraction, to a player guilty of kneeing an opponent. When a player has been assessed a major penalty for kneeing he shall also be assessed a Game Misconduct.
The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent by kneeing.
Kaliyev took a big hit from Anaheim defenseman Radko Gudas in the neutral zone. As he got back to his skates, the Kings winger headed up ice, skating straight at DeLeo. Kaliyev extended his left leg just prior to what would’ve otherwise been a legal hit, sending DeLeo sprawling.
DeLeo left the ice under his own power but did not return to the game.
Kaliyev, a 2019 Kings draft pick, has never previously been suspended by the NHL, but he has been fined. The winger picked up a $2,235 fine for cross-checking Anaheim’s Josh Mahura in April 2022.
The Kings went on to win the game 4-1. Referees were Graham Skilliter (#24) and Graedy Hamilton (#41); linesmen were Justin Johnson (#57) and Trent Knorr (#74).
