Arthur Kaliyevs chance at a Rangers revival starts with his shot

When Brett Berard thought of Arthur Kaliyev’s shot, his mind darted back to January 2021.To when Berard was less than a year removed from becoming a Rangers prospect and Kaliyev was two years removed from being the Kings’ second-round pick.

To the final minutes of a World Juniors semifinal between Team USA and Finland, as Berard watched from the bench and Kaliyev floated toward the center of the Finland zone to wait for a pass. “Within a second, it was off and in the top corner,” Berard said of the game-winning shot that sent Team USA to the championship game en route to its gold medal. Kaliyev’s release became a defining strength of the shoot-first mindset that followed him from juniors and into the NHL, helping him collect 27 points in 80 games during the 2021-22 campaign — his first full season with the Kings — and another 28 in 56 games the following year.But lineup crunches and an injury resulted in his role diminishing with Los Angeles and then evaporating altogether this year after returning from a broken clavicle sustained in the preseason. So Kaliyev ended up on waivers Sunday.

That’s how the kid who grew up in Staten Island attending Rangers games at the Garden ended up sharing the ice with Berard, K’Andre Miller and Jonathan Quick — three former teammates at the junior and NHL levels — during Tuesday’s morning skate before Blueshirts hosted the Stars at the Garden, the earliest glimpse of Kaliyev’s attempt at a career reset as he looks to crack and then remain in their regular lineup. “I didn’t expect [getting waived], obviously,” Kaliyev said, “but yeah, it’s kinda like a dream come true.” If Kaliyev can revive his NHL trajectory, his shot will likely sit at the center of the resurgence.Kaliyev’s stint with the Kings spiraled after offseason signings ultimately chipped away at his role, and he only registered 15 points across 51 games last year.

Then, early in training camp, he fractured his clavicle, and h...