Viktor Arvidsson

As has been the case throughout his career, the injury bug bit Arvidsson in a major way last season. To his credit, he was a legitimate difference-maker when healthy, posting six goals and 15 points in 18 games. Still just 31 years old, Arvidsson entered unrestricted free agency this past summer and signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Oilers. It has the potential to be a massive steal for the club if Arvidsson can remain healthy. It also does a ton for his fantasy value, as the Swede seems likely to line up alongside either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl on one of Edmonton's top two lines.

Arvidsson's career took a bit of a dip with Nashville in 2019-20 and 2020-21, with him recording 28 points in 57 contests followed by 25 points in 50 games. That led to the Predators trading him to LA in the summer of 2021, which has proved to be a great fit for Arvidsson, who has contributed 46 goals and 108 points in 143 outings over the last two years. The 30-year-old has never played at an elite level, but he's shown he can be a solid top-six forward, and that's a role he's been able to maintain with the Kings. Looking ahead, he's projected to be part of what could be a very strong second line this season, comprising of him, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Kevin Fiala. Arvidsson already has some experience playing alongside Fiala and if he can mesh with Dubois too, then this could be a very strong year for the Swedish forward. Even if that trio ends up not fitting well together, Arvidsson is still a strong bet to finish with 20-30 goals and 50-60 points.

Health was an issue for Arvidsson in his first season with the Kings in 2021-22, but he was a pleasant surprise when available. The former long-time Predator posted 20 goals in 66 games, the fourth time in his career he's reached that mark. Arvidsson also finished with 49 points , his most since the 2017-18 campaign. Arvidsson was a scratch for LA's final regular-season game before being sidelined for the entirety of the team's seven-game first round playoff loss to Edmonton. It was later revealed Arvidsson needed surgery for a herniated disc in his back, an injury which was expected to sideline him for 3-5 months. The Swede should tentatively be ready for the start of the upcoming season, but it's not a guarantee, so check back on his status during training camp.

After two years of declining performance, the Predators shipped Arvidsson to the Kings in the offseason. The Swede has just 53 points in his last 107 NHL games, and injuries have taken a toll on him over the last few years. At his best, Arvidsson put up back-to-back 61-point campaigns, but he hasn't topped 50 points in the three years since. With the Kings, he's likely to get a top-six role, although it's unclear if he'll flank Anze Kopitar or skate with one of the team's younger center prospects like Jaret Anderson-Dolan or Gabriel Vilardi. Health will be important for Arvidsson to have a shot at bouncing back -- the best-case scenario is likely 30 goals, 50 points, 200 shots on net and a shooting percentage north of 10 for the 28-year-old with plenty to prove.

Arvidsson was limited to just 57 games last season due to a lower-body injury, but that wasn't the only problem with the 27-year-old winger, as his production also absolutely plummeted, finishing the campaign with just 15 goals and 13 assists one year after racking up 34 goals and 14 apples in 58 contests. Arvidsson also registered his lowest average ice time (16:12) since 2016-17, indicating the Predators' coaching staff simply isn't interested in keeping him on the ice when he isn't putting the puck in the net. Arvidsson's still expected to skate in a top-six role while seeing time on Nashville's top power-play unit in 2020-21, but at this point he's to risky to trust with anything more than a late-round flier in fantasy drafts.

Arvidsson continued to flourish on the Predators' top line in 2018-19, posting a career-high 34 goals. He only registered 14 assists -- his lowest output in that category since 2015-16 -- but he reached 48 points in just 58 games, which represented the highest point-per-game average of his career. The Swedish winger reached new heights in the goal-scoring department behind a career-high 17.4 shooting percentage, but he also averaged a career-best 3.36 shots per contest. Even if his shooting percentage regresses a bit in 2019-20, Arvidsson should be good for 30-plus goals, 60-plus points and 240-plus shots if he's able to avoid the injury bug.

In 2017-18, Arvidsson delivered his second consecutive 61-point season with 29 goals and 32 assists, cementing himself as the Preds' No. 1 right winger. For fantasy purposes, Arvidsson is about as consistent a scorer as you can get. Playing on the top line with Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg – not to mention one of the league's best defensive corps behind him – the Preds have surrounded him with loads of elite-level talent, allowing him to maximize his offensive skills. At 25 years old, Arvidsson is now entering his prime years, which gives him plenty of upside – likely in the 70-75 point range. He is also signed through 2024, which means he's not going anywhere anytime soon. Overall, Arvidsson makes for a good mid-round selection in most fantasy drafts.

Arvidsson was unquestionably the Predators’ breakout star last season, tying Ryan Johansen for the lead in team scoring with 61 points (31 goals, 30 assists) following a 16-point rookie season. The winger wasn't quite as productive in the playoffs, contributing 13 points in 22 playoff, but he and the Preds still made it to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history. An undersized forward at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, Arvidsson can pass and finish with equal proficiency, and while he obviously doesn't play a physical game, his elusiveness and voluminous shooting are reminiscent of former NHL star Martin St. Louis. Arvidsson’s performance earned him a long-term deal, as he inked a seven-year, $29.75 million contract in July. Looking ahead, the 24-year-old Swede is expected to open the upcoming season once again on the Preds’ top line alongside Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg. That should allow him plenty of opportunities to take a run at repeating last year’s success, and an improvement in power-play productivity (just nine points despite exactly two minutes of average ice time last year) could boost his fantasy value to the next level.

A fairly prolific scorer in the minors, Arvidsson spent 56 games with the Preds in 2015-16 after skating just six games the season before. He didn’t really start seeing full-time minutes until December, when the Preds called him up from AHL Milwaukee due to a lower-body injury to Gabriel Bourque, but he became a lineup regular down the stretch, albeit typically in a bottom-six role. The undersized Swede didn’t set any hearts racing with eight goals (three of which were game-winners) and 16 points, but his non-premier line assignment and lack of power-play time are mitigating factors. Arvidsson enters this season with a projected spot on the Preds’ third line, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the 23-year-old elevate his game in his second full season and maybe even pry some top-six minutes from disappointing second-liner Craig Smith.

After scoring 40 points in 50 games with Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Hockey League two seasons ago, Arvidsson made the successful jump to the AHL last season, leading Milwaukee with 55 points in 70 games. Given his proven offensive ability, the Preds will probably give Arvidsson a long look in training camp this year. If he can secure himself a roster spot, Arvidsson could flourish under coach Peter Laviolette's up-tempo, attacking system and provide the team some scoring depth. In deeper fantasy formats, Arvidsson is one player to keep an eye on.