Ex-Edmonton Oilers cap dump Arvidsson lighting it up with Bruins
Did the Edmonton Oilers give up on Viktor Arvidsson too quickly?
The Swedish forward did not live up to expectations in the Alberta capital, posting just 15 goals and 27 points with the Oilers last season, and a measly two goals and seven points in 15 playoff games. Overall, Arvidsson wound up being a bit of a disappointment for the Oilers, and they saw enough of him to dump him off to the Boston Bruins this past summer in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick.
Fast forward to today, and it’s looking like the Bruins have made off like bandits in that deal. Arvidsson has returned to form on the East Coast, with 24 goals and 53 points in Boston this season.
Viktor Arvidsson cleans it up for his 20th of the year 🧹
pic.twitter.com/etb5IZLPiD— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) March 26, 2026
Arvidsson had initially signed a two-year deal with the Oilers in the summer of 2024 and was expected to add a bit of offensive punch to Edmonton’s middle six. However, that was not the case, and he wound up being a regular healthy scratch during the Oilers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final.
With the Oilers facing a cap crunch last summer, GM Stan Bowman opted to trade Arvidsson to open up some cap space. That decision is now paying off for the Bruins, as the Swede is fifth in team scoring and has helped claw Boston into a playoff spot.
The only Oilers players with more points than Arvidsson this season are Connor McDavid (133), Leon Draisaitl (97), Evan Bouchard (91), and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (55).
So, why did things go so badly for Arvidsson in Edmonton? The most obvious answer is injuries, as the 33-year-old missed nearly a month of time early into the 2024-25 campaign. This, combined with playing just 23 games the season prior with the LA Kings, may have hampered Arvidsson from playing to his true potential.
That, and perhaps the system that head coach Kris Knoblauch runs with Edmonton, just didn’t click with him. Arvidsson wouldn’t be the first player who saw his production fall off a cliff in Edmonton only to see it return after they left.
For whatever reason, it’s definitely good news for Arvidsson, who will now look to cash in this summer with a new contract.