Viktor Arvidsson agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.
The 31-year-old forward will earn an average of $4 million per year to continue his career in the Alberta capital.
Arvidsson had 15 points (six goals, nine assists) and was limited to 18 games with the Los Angeles Kings last season because of injuries. He had three assists in five Stanley Cup Playoff games.
“I’m happy to be a member of the Oilers, it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Arvidsson said Monday. “This group is amazing. They’ve got momentum and it’s going to be great.
“The process was pretty straightforward. A few teams were interested, but I know [le défenseur des Oilers Mattias Ekholm] for a long time and our families know each other well too, so he convinced me pretty quickly. That was an important aspect in my decision, and I’m happy. Our families are too.”
Arvidsson, who had 59 points (26 goals, 33 assists) in 77 games with the Kings in 2022-23, said he is healthy and eager to fit in with the Oilers, who reached the Stanley Cup Final last season and lost to the Florida Panthers in seven games.
“Of course I’m 100 percent,” he said. “I showed that by coming back at the end of the season. I feel very good right now. I know people are worried, but I’m the only one who knows my body and I feel good. I’m hopeful that it will be a good season and that I’ll play a lot of games.
“I like to control the puck and play offence, so I think I’ll fit in there. That’s how the team plays too. My style of play is to generate offence and create scoring chances, while being responsible from 200 feet. With the Oilers, I see an opportunity to have success and a team that could have success.”
Selected by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2014 draft, Arvidsson recorded 362 points (179 goals, 183 assists) in 546 season games for the Kings and Predators and 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists) in 72 playoff games.
The Oilers also signed forwards Corey Perry (one year), Adam Henrique (two years), Mattias Janmark (three years) and Troy Stecher (two years) and defenseman Josh Brown (three years) in free agency Monday. Perry will receive a salary of $1.4 million, Henrique will receive $3 million per season, Janmark will receive $1.45 million per year, Stecher will receive $787,500 per season and Brown will have an average annual salary of $1 million.
Perry, a 39-year-old veteran, had 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) in 54 regular-season games with the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks last season, including 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in 38 games with Edmonton after signing with the Oilers on Jan. 22. The forward had his last contract terminated by the Blackhawks on Nov. 28.
Perry added three points (one goal, two assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games as the Oilers reached the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost in seven games to the Florida Panthers. It was the fourth time in five seasons that Perry had his season end in the final, and with four different teams (Oilers – 2024, Tampa Bay Lightning – 2022, Montreal Canadiens – 2021, Dallas Stars – 2020).
Henrique, 34, had 51 points (24 goals, 27 assists) in 82 regular-season games with the Oilers and Ducks last season, including nine points (six goals, three assists) in 22 games after being acquired by the Oilers on March 6. He then added seven points (four goals, three assists) in 17 playoff games.
A third-round pick (82nd overall) of the New Jersey Devils in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Henrique has 530 points (263 goals, 267 assists) in 912 regular-season games with the Oilers, Ducks and Devils, and 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 45 playoff games.
