NHL clears Ottawa Senators’ Arthur Kaliyev to return after gambling allegations

OTTAWA — Ottawa Senators forward Arthur Kaliyev has been cleared to return to the NHL, the league and the NHLPA confirmed. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was first to report.

Kaliyev’s former partner, Lauren Mochen, accused him last fall of scamming her out of over $50,000 to fund a gambling habit and subjecting her to verbal abuse. In September, Senators GM Steve Staios said the situation was being monitored but added there was “nothing” to the allegations.

“The League has conducted a thorough review of this matter and found no basis to conclude there was a violation of League policy or grounds for discipline,” the NHL said in a statement.

On Thursday night, Kaliyev was called up to the Senators’ roster for “precautionary reasons” ahead of the team’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. Centre Tim Stützle was a game-time decision to play after suffering from illness this week. Stützle played, while Kaliyev didn’t.

The Senators signed Kaliyev, 24, last offseason, but he’s only played two NHL games this season, registering one assist. He’s spent most of the season in the AHL with the Belleville Senators, where he was named an AHL All-Star. Kaliyev has 30 goals and 50 points in 52 games played this season.

Kaliyev has 38 goals and 76 points in 204 career NHL games spread across Ottawa, the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings. Kaliyev also won an Ontario Hockey League championship in 2018 as a member of the Hamilton Bulldogs, with Staios as team general manager and current Senators owner Michael Andlauer in charge.