Bruins’ Viktor Arvidsson looking forward to fresh start after leaving Oilers

This story originally appeared on hockeysverige.se and has been translated from Swedish to English.

Viktor Arvidsson has been around the block for a while.

He’s a veteran of more than 600 games in the NHL. It all started back in 2014 when he left Sweden to join the Nashville Predators. In 2021, he moved on to the Los Angeles Kings, where he spent three seasons before heading to Canada last year to play for the Edmonton Oilers. 

Last season didn’t turn out the way he had expected.

“It ended with the finals, which was also the reason I went there. To try and win, and we came close,” Arvidsson said. “Personally, I was a bit injured at the start, missing about 15 games. My role on the team wasn’t really what I had in mind, but it wasn’t what Edmonton had envisioned either. It turned into kind of a trudging season for me, with less ice time and a reduced role. Still, it was a fun and, above all, a very educational season.”

But all in all, he views the season in Alberta as a disappointment.

“I won’t deny that,” Arvidsson said. “First and foremost, it was tough losing (in the finals). And then I also wanted to get more out of my game.”

After spending his entire NHL career in the U.S., the Canadian experience was something new and refreshing for Arvidsson.

“It was actually a little different. I have kids, and some things worked a bit differently with them. I’d say Canada is a little more like Sweden, and we really enjoyed it, so there were no problems at all.”

Arvidsson left Edmonton this summer after being traded to the Boston Bruins at the beginning of July. Both the team and the player decided a move was the best course of action, despite having one year left in the contract.

“We looked around a bit on the market, and I agreed with Edmonton that the best thing for me was to find something new that would be a better fit,” Arvidsson said. “It ended with Boston being interested, and I think it’s going to be really fun.”

The Bruins’ DNA and history also appeal to Arvidsson.

“Boston has always been a hardworking team,” he added. “They’re strong defensively. It’s always been tough to come into that arena and play because Boston’s fans are very passionate. The whole city is a great sports town. That’s how I see it, and I want to come in there myself and add a little spice.”

He won’t be the only Swede in town; both Elias and Hampus Lindholm are already there.

“It’ll be fun with Hampus and Elias. Fabian Lysell is there too, but I haven’t met him yet. Of course, it means a lot to have other Swedes on the team. I’ve also been fortunate throughout my career to have plenty of Swedes around me.”

Arvidsson had 15 goals and 27 points in 67 games with the Oilers last season. Those are numbers he hopes to surpass in Boston.

“Personally, I want to bounce back to the kind of seasons I had in LA and also in Nashville,” Arvidsson said. “That’s where I want to get back to and be able to contribute offensively with my game. And then, of course, we’re aiming for the playoffs—that’s what every team does at the start of the season. First and foremost, we need to make the playoffs. We also have a new coach (Marco Sturm), so that’ll be really exciting.”

As a major sports city, Boston will offer Arvidsson a variety of options in his spare time if he chooses to explore. But what sport would he be most interested in?

“I don’t really know, but it would be fun to go to a college hockey game, which I know is big there. It would be interesting to see how that works. The NFL is also huge in Boston.”

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