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

Injuries had a lot to do with it, but his decline also roughly coincided with Nashville firing Laviolette and hiring Hynes. That's ultimately why Arvidsson wanted out: he felt that he wasn't getting the same opportunity with the new coaching staff. That's one reason to be hopeful. As long as McLellan favors a more offensive, attack-style system than Hynes, he should rebound some. I don't expect him to get back to 30+ goals, but 20-25 is quite doable as long as he gets top 6 ice time, which seems safe for a while because of the lack of natural wingers on the team and in the pipeline.

The home page for HockeyBuzz says Eichel and Dman Robert Hagg to LA for three roster players and the Kings first round pick in 2022. I am not a big fan of Eichel but my opinion is based solely on his conduct with team management and his injury. Perhaps getting out of Buffalo changes all that.

In any event, if this is true then who goes to Buffalo?

I think Valardi because Eichel is a center and the logjam that already exists at the center position would be further acerbated by the arrival of Eichel. If Eichel does come over to the Kings, the Kings could have a center roster of Kopitar, Eichel, Danault, and Byfield. That would stack up pretty well.

Along with Vilardi would probably be Iafallo (cap reasons) and hopefully Maatta. Dustin Brown is from the Buffalo area but i doubt Buffalo wants him.. but you never know. Anyways, what do you think Ben Shelley? Is it just quiet season rumor mongering or is there something you might have heard also?

The home page for HockeyBuzz says Eichel and Dman Robert Hagg to LA for three roster players and the Kings first round pick in 2022. I am not a big fan of Eichel but my opinion is based solely on his conduct with team management and his injury. Perhaps getting out of Buffalo changes all that.

In any event, if this is true then who goes to Buffalo?

I think Valardi because Eichel is a center and the logjam that already exists at the center position would be further acerbated by the arrival of Eichel. If Eichel does come over to the Kings, the Kings could have a center roster of Kopitar, Eichel, Danault, and Byfield. That would stack up pretty well.

Along with Vilardi would probably be Iafallo (cap reasons) and hopefully Maatta. Dustin Brown is from the Buffalo area but i doubt Buffalo wants him.. but you never know. Anyways, what do you think Ben Shelley? Is it just quiet season rumor mongering or is there something you might have heard also?
- UglyinLA

Gabe, Iafallo, Brown and Maatta for Eichel? Kings will probably have to throw in a first (lottery protected). Not sure I want the Kings to part with Maatta. You drive a hard bargain. But let's do this deal!

Gabe, Iafallo, Brown and Maatta for Eichel? Kings will probably have to throw in a first (lottery protected). Not sure I want the Kings to part with Maatta. You drive a hard bargain. But let's do this deal!
- Only_A_Ladd

That’s not getting Eichel

That’s not getting Eichel
- KINGS67

What's the Maatta with it?

What's the Maatta with it?
- Osprey

Not enough quality going back IMO.

I think Turcotte will need to be in any deal that gets Eichel.

RE: Arvidsson
I don't think it's a fools dream to imagine Arvidsson (does he have a nickname?) playing on the top line and scoring 25 goals. A pessimist might see him playing on the third line and scoring 15 goals. Likely somewhere in between, but it was a good value trade either way you slice it. I wouldn't mind seeing a top line of:

Kempe - Kopitar - Arvidsson

I think all three of those players top 20+ goals in that scenario, which is a good start to a line up.

RE: Eichel
Probably have to start with one of the big three and go from there.
Byfield or Turcotte or Clarke (one of the big three)
Iafallo or Kempe or Vilardi (young top 6 forward)
Kupari of Kaliyev or Bjornfoot (former 1st round prospect -- almost)
1st round draft pick

That's three 1st round picks and a top six forward. Also -- I'm not on the Eichel-Train To-Nowhere, but I hope for the best for that kid.

Not enough quality going back IMO.

I think Turcotte will need to be in any deal that gets Eichel.
- KINGS67

I know. I was trying to point you to the sentence that suggests that he was having some friendly fun with the original proposal.

That’s not getting Eichel
- KINGS67

There's no impetus on either side of a potential deal. The Sabres have an injured 1C who is out for a good chunk of the season. Conversely, any team looking at Eichel would have to give up major pieces for an unknown. Especially now, with rosters practically set and ~10 teams over the cap, no one is making a move for 10mm AAV and giving up significant pieces. The Sabres, too, would be selling low.

I don't think it's a fools dream to imagine Arvidsson (does he have a nickname?) playing on the top line and scoring 25 goals.
- Cabbages and Kings

His nickname is Arvy, which fans sometimes stylize as RV and pronounce as "Arrr-vy." Due to the latter, the Preds even produced a bobblehead in which he stood on a chest of pucks with a parrot on his arm.

Osprey,

Who would have to center:

Arrrty -- ? -- Arrrvy

In order to have the Pirate Party line?

I don't know about a Pirate Party, but put Anze between them and you could have the "AAA line."

Osprey,

Who would have to center:

Arrrty -- ? -- Arrrvy

In order to have the Pirate Party line?
- Cabbages and Kings

Maybe Vil-arrrrr-di?

I see Arvy getting a good shot, at least ten games, go get chemistry going with Kopi. If they do have that chemistry, I see him with 25+ and ~55 points.

"Arrr"ty -- Vil"Arrr"di -- "Arrr"vy

Love it.

".... the Canucks called the Pirate Party Line and the Party Pirates answered with two goals late in the third and the clincher in overtime to send the series to game seven!"

Also. I'm a very serious person.

Buffalo may want Brown. They need to hit the cap floor and therefore need to take on a significant amount salary, Dustin is from Ithica which is in the area and in my opinion they need a vet like Brown. The Kings only send a Brown if he wants to go. They will let him retire a King if he wants to.

Buffalo may want Brown. They need to hit the cap floor and therefore need to take on a significant amount salary, Dustin is from Ithica which is in the area and in my opinion they need a vet like Brown. The Kings only send a Brown if he wants to go. They will let him retire a King if he wants to.
- KingsFan67

Buffalo will be above the cap floor as soon as they sign Dahlin, IMO.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/sabres

1L Arvidsson, 1C Kopitar, 1R Brown.

1L Arvidsson, 1C Kopitar, 1R Brown.
- Shady1962

Arvidsson was brought in to play on the RW, not the LW. He'll likely start on the second line next to Danault.

Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Kempe-Danault-Arvidsson
Moore-Vilardi-Athanasiou
Andersson-JAD-Tkachev
Grundstrom
Lizotte

Arvidsson was brought in to play on the RW, not the LW. He'll likely start on the second line next to Danault.

Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Kempe-Danault-Arvidsson
Moore-Vilardi-Athanasiou
Andersson-JAD-Tkachev
Grundstrom
Lizotte
- tkecanuck341

We have to move Arvidsson to play with Kopitar. The old man needs to play with a sniper for once. Please. Before he retires.

We have to move Arvidsson to play with Kopitar. The old man needs to play with a sniper for once. Please. Before he retires.
- Only_A_Ladd

Bring up Kaliyev to play next to Kopitar. I think Kempe and Arvidsson are going to play together due to their history with Team Sweden, and I think that Danault is best suited for that line. He's a much better skater than Kopitar, and Kempe and Arvidsson both have above average speed.

FYI. Arvidsson Is a natural LW and I'm sure that through the course of the season we will see him on both wings at any given time.