Viktor Arvidsson's 2024-25 season with the Edmonton Oilers was, to put it mildly, underwhelming, leading to his trade to the Boston Bruins for a fifth-round pick in 2027. Signed as a free agent on July 1, 2024, to a two-year, $8 million contract, much more was expected from the veteran winger.

Expectations vs. Reality

The Oilers hoped Arvidsson would bring consistent offensive production, perhaps even pushing 60 points, and contribute to a Stanley Cup-winning team. He had a history of being a productive player with the Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators, and Edmonton was looking for that same impact. Instead, the 32-year-old Swede struggled to find his game, posting just 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points in 67 regular-season games. His 0.40 points per game was a far cry from what the Oilers envisioned.

Inconsistency and Deployment

Arvidsson's biggest issue was his inconsistency. While flashes of his former self appeared, they were too infrequent. He spent a significant amount of time on the second line with Leon Draisaitl, but failed to establish himself as a reliable scoring threat. As the playoffs progressed, Arvidsson's role diminished. While he played in all of the Oilers' first-round series games against the Kings, he was either a healthy scratch or played on the fourth line as the team advanced. He ultimately contributed just two goals and five assists in 15 playoff games.

Analytics and On-Ice Impact

While Arvidsson drove offense at a 7% rate above the league average, his defensive game struggled, contributing at a 5% rate below league average. This made him a low-end second-line player in terms of overall contribution. His Corsi For percentage (CF%) was 56.10, with a relative CF% of 1.70. His Defensive Zone Faceoff Percentage (DFF%) was 55.70, but his Relative DFF% was -0.50.

Trade to Boston

Ultimately, the Oilers needed to create cap space and found a trade partner in the Boston Bruins. Arvidsson's no-trade clause was waived to facilitate the deal. Edmonton received a fifth-round pick in 2027 in return. Trading Arvidsson freed up $4 million in cap space for the Oilers.

Oilers' 2024-25 Season Overview

The Oilers finished the 2024-25 season with a 48-29-5 record, placing them third in the Pacific Division. They made it to the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive year but lost to the Florida Panthers. The team struggled to find a consistent winger to play with Draisaitl. Several players were brought in during the offseason to revamp the forward group, including Andrew Mangiapane and Isaac Howard. Matt Savoie, acquired in a trade, is expected to compete for a top-nine role. The Oilers also traded Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks.