The 2023–24 season has ended in disappointing fashion and now we are in a quick turnaround to get through the entry draft and into the free agent period on July 1.
Even before it officially opens, teams and players become linked. Such is the case with Los Angeles Kings winger Viktor Arvidsson.
This past week, rumblings have started up linking the forward to the Edmonton Oilers this offseason. Arvidsson, a pending UFA, is through the last year of a seven-year contract originally signed with the Nashville Predators before being traded to the Kings in the 2021 offseason. His expiring deal carried a $4.25M cap hit.
Who is Viktor Arvidsson?
Us Oilers fans will be plenty familiar with the game Arvidsson plays as a result of the rivalry between these two teams. The Oilers have played (and beat) the Kings in the first round of the playoffs in each of the past three seasons.
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, I guess?
Nevertheless, Arvidsson is a player with impressive scoring pedigree, having hit 30 goals twice in his career (and 29 in another season) with a career high of 34. He has twice put up 61 points in a single season as well.
| Season | Tm | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | EV | PPG | SHG | GWG | EV | PP | SH | SOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | NSH | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2015-16 | NSH | 56 | 8 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 35 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 139 |
| 2016-17 | NSH | 80 | 31 | 30 | 61 | 16 | 28 | 22 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 5 | 2 | 246 |
| 2017-18 | NSH | 78 | 29 | 32 | 61 | 20 | 36 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 247 |
| 2018-19 | NSH | 58 | 34 | 14 | 48 | 12 | 26 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 195 |
| 2019-20 | NSH | 57 | 15 | 13 | 28 | -4 | 26 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 127 |
| 2020-21 | NSH | 50 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 9 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 151 |
| 2021-22 | LAK | 66 | 20 | 29 | 49 | 1 | 22 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 227 |
| 2022-23 | LAK | 77 | 26 | 33 | 59 | -4 | 24 | 15 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 15 | 0 | 228 |
| 2023-24 | LAK | 18 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 4 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 59 |
| 7 yrs | NSH | 385 | 127 | 112 | 239 | 45 | 172 | 100 | 17 | 10 | 25 | 93 | 16 | 3 | 1114 |
| 3 yrs | LAK | 161 | 52 | 71 | 123 | 1 | 60 | 36 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 48 | 23 | 0 | 514 |
| Career | 10 yrs | 546 | 179 | 183 | 362 | 46 | 232 | 136 | 32 | 11 | 31 | 141 | 39 | 3 | 1628 |
Provided by Hockey-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/26/2024.
He is a superb shooter but in more recent years has also further developed his playmaking abilities, reflected in the past two seasons having his highest assists per 60 total in his career.
Arvidsson is an energetic, hard working player who is proficient enough at both ends of the rink. Although he is much more useful offensively and with the puck on his stick, his aggressiveness without the puck ensures he is not a defensive liability.
He may not be a play driver or creator on his own, but he projects to be an excellent complimentary piece alongside some star players.
A major concern for Arvidsson is his health. He missed nearly the entire 2023–24 season with a back injury. Then when he returned, only played for a week before suffering a lower body injury and missing another month.
That was the second significant back injury Arvidsson has dealt with in the past two years.
The past six seasons, his games played totals are 56, 57, 50, 66, 77, 18. He does not paint the picture of reliability, and it does not seem likely he will get healthier with age as he is currently 31.
The previously mentioned aggressive playstyle, combined with a smaller stature, does not project well for long-term health, especially with age, either.
Arvidsson’s fit with the Oilers
A player of Arvdisson’s skillset would fit extremely well on the Oilers. Specifically, he could find a niche as a shooter on Leon Draisaitl‘s wing.
Arvidsson’s speed and elusiveness could be a great skill to have to create space for a passer of Draisaitl’s talent level. This comes at a time when Oilers head Coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledges that Draisaitl should have better wingers.
Arvidsson can also be a fit on the power play. And while it is unlikely that he breaks onto the first power play unit, his shot could give the second unit a better chance of scoring and maybe even earning more ice time.
