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Setting expectations for Viktor Arvidsson’s first season with the Kings

September 12, 2021, 10:31 AM ET [21 Comments]
Ben Shelley
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In a busy offseason for the Los Angeles Kings, the team's first of three major additions came when they acquired forward Viktor Arvidsson from the Nashville Predators.

The 28-year-old winger scored 10 goals and 25 points in 50 games last season, a pace of 16 goals and 41 points per 82 games. He’s dealt with injury trouble and has seen his production decline over the last couple of seasons but he’s still likely to be used at the top of the Kings’ forward group.



Here are Arvidsson’s goals, points and shots per 82 game averages, over the last three seasons:

2018-19: 48 G/82, 68 P/82, 276 S/82
2019-20: 22 G/82, 40 P/82, 183 S/82
2020-21: 16 G/82, 41 P/82, 248 S/82

While Arvidsson’s production has dropped substantially over the last two seasons, there are some factors to consider. First, Arvidsson’s usage has decreased from two years ago, considering he was averaging over 19 minutes per game in the 2018-19 season, but just 16:36 per game last year and even less ice time in the year prior.

The other issue was Arvidsson’s shooting percentage. He actually boosted his shots per game average this past season by quite a margin, but had a shooting percentage of just 6.6 per cent. For a player with a career shooting percentage of 11.4 per cent, we can simply expect him to convert more of his chances next season. For reference, if he had maintained a shooting percentage of 11.5 per cent last season, which he had done in each of the four previous seasons, Arvidsson would have had a 28 G/82 and 52 P/82 average last year.

Arvidsson should have an opportunity to capitalize on a large role with the Kings next season.
It may be wishful thinking to bet on him returning to a 30-goal, 60-point pace, but I think it's certainly possible that we could see him score around 25 goals and 50 points next season.



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