Ottawa Senators
· 2026-06-30
The Ottawa Senators have decided not to issue a qualifying offer to RFA winger Arthur Kaliyev.
This move makes Kaliyev an unrestricted free agent after a season with the Belleville Senators.
Kaliyev scored 40 goals in 70 AHL games and was named to the league's All-Star Team.
He finished as the American Hockey League's top goal scorer despite not earning an extended look with Ottawa.
The Senators appeared in only two NHL games, spending the bulk of the year with Belleville.
Kaliyev's season included an off-ice distraction after allegations involving money and gambling were made by a former girlfriend.
The NHL investigated the matter and cleared him of any wrongdoing in February.
And the Senators are currently standing 6th in the Eastern Conference with a 44-27 record, on a W1 streak after losing 2-4 vs Carolina Hurricanes on 2026-04-25.
Kaliyev now returns to the open market looking for another opportunity to turn his offensive talent into a permanent NHL role.
He has excellent offensive instincts, particularly on the power play, where his heavy shot remains elite, even by NHL standards.
But the bigger concern continues to be his five-on-five game, including his skating and defensive play.
The Senators also decided to qualify RFA Leevi Merliainen, but Riley Kidney was not qualified.
Other restricted free agents in Belleville include Tyler Boucher and Xavier Bourgault.