Viktor Arvidsson (LA Kings)
It has worked out pretty well for Viktor Arvidsson, better known as “Arvy” here in Smashville, in his post-Nashville Predators career. I have to be honest here when I say that I didn’t see Arvidsson reigniting his NHL career after joining the Kings.
At most, I figured Arvidsson would remain a role player of sorts, but the guy just came up two points shy of his single season career high in points with 59. Clearly he’s not on the downturn of his NHL career just yet, and he’s on a really talented Kings team that can make some noise in the Western Conference this upcoming season.
Arvidsson was traded in the offseason of 2021 for a 2nd Round and 3rd Round pick. The 2021 pick, Scott Morrow, is now in the Carolina Hurricanes system. The 2022 pick ended up being defenseman Kasper Kulonummi, who is still in the Predators system but is unsigned.
It definitely shook up the core of the Predators roster when this trade happened, including Arvidsson’s long-time buddy and linemate, Filip Forsberg:
Hindsight is always easy to turn to, but at the time of the trade it did feel like Arvidsson’s time with the Predators had run its course. He was tailing off and had seemed to have been figured out by NHL defenses.
Sometimes a player just needs a change of scenery and a better system to thrive in, and that’s was appears to have happened with Arvidsson and the Kings. Arvidsson still has a couple years left in his prime and is projected by Daily Faceoff to be on the Kings’ third line in 2023-24.
It doesn’t take away from the great memories from Arvidsson in a Predators sweater, with the energy and engaging personality to go with it. He sits at No.7 on the Predators all-time goals list with 127.