Nashville Predators: What Do They Need From Arvidsson Next Season?

With the 2020-21 season now over, we can focus our attention on the future of the Nashville Predators. While there is hope for next season, there are also some concerns, and rightfully so.

The Predators kept the core group together last season and at the trade deadline. Most will agree that this can’t happen again this offseason. Changes have to be made, but where do GM David Poile and Head Coach John Hynes start?

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One player fans would hate to see go may be moved in the offseason either through the expansion draft or a trade. While it would be sad to see this fan-favorite move to another team, it may be necessary for the growth of the Predators.

Back in November of 2019, Viktor Arvidsson sustained an injury at the hands of Robert Bortuzzo in what the NHL deemed a dirty cross-check.

Ultimately, Bortuzzo was handed a four-game suspension, which he served and then moved on with his season. Unfortunately, Arvidsson wasn’t so lucky.

Arvidsson missed a month’s worth of games. When he was finally cleared to play, he was not the same player indicating that he was never 100% healthy upon his return.

Once the season resumed with the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, we caught a glimpse of the pre-injury Arvidsson. He scored three goals in the four games they played against Arizona.

Last season, Arvidsson missed six games and only played in the first two playoff games against Carolina. He tallied 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in the shortened season. However, his numbers were a far cry from his past 61-point performances, and he still looked like he was struggling to regain his form.

Could Arvidsson Be Moving To Seattle?

It would seem highly unlikely that Arvidsson would be left off of the protected player list. He is a mainstay of the Predators and has been with them his entire career.

However, since his back-to-back 61-point seasons, Arvidsson has seen declining numbers. It would appear that his injury in 2019 left more of a mark than we initially thought.

Or perhaps Arvidsson is having trouble adjusting to the new system implemented by Hynes. Either way, it could lead to a change of scenery for Arvidsson.

The consensus among fans is that Poile should try to work out a deal with Seattle Kraken GM Ron Francis to take either Matt Duchene or Ryan Johansen in the expansion draft.

A deal of that nature could be a good move that could free up some cap space. However, it could result in Nashville retaining some of the salary of either Duchene or Johansen, a proposition that is not a great idea. Just look at the Kyle Turris debacle.

If Arvidsson is left unprotected, he could be a good fit for Seattle. Also, a new team with a different system could benefit Arvidsson, provided he can stay healthy and get back to his old self.

What Do The Nashville Predators Need From Arvidsson Next Season?

If Arvidsson survives the expansion draft and remains in Nashville, the answer is simple. The Predators need 2017-18 Arvy back.

If Arvidsson only had one 61-point season in his career, we could call it an outlier and an excellent year for him. However, he had two 61-point seasons in a row followed up by a 48-point year as well.

Arvidsson is expected to be fully healthy and ready for the 2021-22 season. The expectation would be for him to remain a top-six forward and step up his production.

The Predators desperately need forwards who can score, and Arvidsson was that player a couple of seasons ago. If he remains, it seems like next season could be a test to see if he has what it takes to remain a top-six forward for the Predators.

If Arvidsson continues to struggle next season, there is a high possibility that he will be on the block at the trade deadline.

In his end-of-season interview, Poile said that changes would be coming to the lineup next season. However, at this point, it is too early to tell who will stay and who will go.

This offseason, we may be saying goodbye to some players that we all love to watch. It is an unfortunate part of the sport. However, a new team, role, and city could be just what a player like Arvidsson may need.