Both drafted by the Kings in 2019, the dynamic duo opens up about life on and off the ice, including their first time meeting each other, their experience together at the 2021 World Junior Championships (WJC) and even Kaliyev's favorite meal at the Cheesecake Factory.
With much more covered in the episode, Turcotte, the former fifth-overall draft pick who grew up with a lineage in the hockey world, explained the pressures, or lack thereof that he felt to play hockey growing up.
"Everyone in my family wanted me to play hockey because they all did. My dad also wanted me to play other sports too. I played soccer growing up and lacrosse in my middle school days. I branched out, but I always went back to hockey, even when my dad wanted me to take a break... I always wanted to play hockey," Turcotte told Jablonski.
Kaliyev, the Kings second-round selection, also touched on his acclimation process to professional hockey from the WJC that he and Turcotte both won gold in.
"The skill level at the [WJC] was the highest it possibly could've been. Now, in the AHL, it's much more physical and about getting pucks deep. It's not just a skill game [in the AHL], I can't just make skill plays the whole game... Personally and individually, we've been getting much better as the season goes on," Kaliyev told Jablonski.
Watch the full episode of the Future Series with Turcotte and Kaliyev here:
