Oilers' Viktor Arvidsson Returns to LA for Crucial Matchup

This Saturday marks the first time Viktor Arvidsson will play as a visitor against the Kings at the Crypto.com Arena since his time with Nashville. The Kings acquired him before the 2021-22 season, signaling a significant shift within the organization as Rob Blake aimed to compete for a playoff spot. Arvidsson joined an offseason that also included the acquisitions of Alexander Edler and Phillip Danault. This led to a season in which the Kings pushed the Edmonton Oilers to a seventh game in the playoffs, even though Arvidsson missed every game due to injury—an issue that would continue during his time in Los Angeles.

During his three seasons with the Kings, Arvidsson proved to be an offensive spark plug, ranking among the team's top producers. He accumulated 123 points during this span, only behind Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, and Adrian Kempe in terms of productivity. Additionally, he was a key player in the playoffs, racking up 10 points in the 11 games he played (1 goal and 9 assists).

Arvidsson was a crucial component of the power play, scoring 38 points in his tenure with Los Angeles, primarily because he was among the few right-handed forwards available for the first unit. The Kings' power-play efficiency has suffered since his departure, as evidenced by their 15.9% success rate. His point total could have been even higher had it not been for his ongoing health issues.

Of the 246 regular-season games Arvidsson played with the Kings, he was on the ice for only 161. Health concerns have always been a significant issue for him, dating back to his time with the Nashville Predators. It's widely believed that a serious injury he sustained in 2019 due to a cross-check to his lower back by Robert Bortuzzo has contributed to his ongoing struggles with health. During his time with Los Angeles, he often found himself in limbo regarding his injuries, leaving fans and writers alike uncertain about the extent of his conditions.

Arvidsson's situation mirrored what Trevor Moore is currently experiencing, with day-to-day updates dragging on for weeks. In Arvidsson's case, this extended to months, culminating in back surgery for a herniated disc during the 2023-24 season.

By the end of the 2023-24 season, it became increasingly clear that Blake would not re-sign the oft-injured Arvidsson. The Kings allocated his salary cap hit toward re-signing other players and gaining more flexibility for offseason spending. Consequently, Arvidsson moved on, signing a two-year, $4 million AAV deal with the Oilers.

The Oilers have faced their own uncertainties regarding Arvidsson's health but have seen some success when he is in good form. Recently, he has returned from injury and has thrived playing alongside Connor McDavid, a position offering tremendous production potential. Arvidsson has already played 19 regular-season games, surpassing his total from last season, and he has produced three goals and four assists, totaling 7 points. When healthy, Arvidsson remains a legitimate threat on the wing, regardless of his center.

The Kings have missed Arvidsson's contributions to the power play. In previous seasons, they had ranked as high as fourth in the league in this regard, aided by a young Gabriel Vilardi rotating between both units. While Alex Laferriere has stepped up his productivity at even strength this season, he has yet to fill the void left by Arvidsson or Vilardi on the first unit, particularly in handedness.

Although the Kings may be performing better at even strength without Arvidsson during the first half of the year—evidenced by their analytics showing they are one of the best teams in the Blake era—the absence of Arvidsson's consistent production could become more apparent as the season progresses. The team must continually rely on younger players who have provided intermittent secondary scoring. Fortunately for the Kings and Blake, they made some savvy moves due to the extra cap space from not resigning Arvidsson.

During the offseason, the Oilers and Kings completed a free-agent swap that has notably benefited the Kings, particularly due to Warren Foegele's impressive performance. In 34 games, Foegele has recorded nine goals and nine assists, totaling 18 points with a +14 rating. While Arvidsson has faced an early injury and has not played as many games, he is now fully healthy with the Oilers and could become a significant contributor as the team continues its upward trajectory.

The Oilers currently lead the Kings by just one point for second place in the Pacific Division, creating a high-stakes situation for their upcoming game. If the Kings win, they will leapfrog the Oilers and reclaim their previous position in the division. However, if they lose, the Oilers will gain some breathing room, while the Kings will face increased pressure to execute, especially with Vancouver lurking closely behind.

The Kings have struggled recently while still collecting points, finishing their second seven-game road trip of the season with a record of 3-2-2 (Finished that trip 1-1-2). In contrast, the Oilers have been on a hot streak, boasting an impressive 8-2-0 record in their last ten games.

When he returns to Los Angeles, Arvidsson will be welcomed by the fans yet scrutinized for joining the team that has eliminated the Kings from the playoffs three years. This will occur while the Kings navigate potentially challenging times ahead due to past decisions.