Seattle Kraken were going to take Viktor Arvidsson in expansion draft; Predators opted to trade him instead
Anthony Scultore
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Yesterday’s trade for Viktor Arvidsson signaled the report stating the Kings were out on Jack Eichel was accurate. By taking on $4.25 million in salary without shedding any it was a clear indication that trying to add Eichel’s $10 million wasn’t in L.A.’s plans.
On the other hand, the Nashville Predators were likely sellers at last year’s trade deadline until they went on a run and made the playoffs. Now it appears GM David Poile is moving forward with that plan, but trading Arvidsson was about not losing an asset for nothing.
Seattle Kraken were going to select Viktor Arvidsson
Poile’s motivation for trading Arvidsson was two-fold. First, he wanted more cap-space. That’s why the Kings landed him since other teams wanted to send equivalent salary back. Secondly, the Kraken were going to take him if left unprotected.
“I had a couple of conversations with Seattle, if Viktor Arvidsson was not protected that’s who we would’ve lost,” he admitted to Darren, Daunic, and Chase of 102.5 FM. “Two picks is better than losing Viktor for nothing.”
“I had some conversations with Ron Francis in Seattle, and I think I got to know what they’re thinking,” Poile continued. “I think he likes certain defensemen on our team and certain forwards. If I could make a deal that I liked with him I’d prefer that over than going over to the expansion draft. We’re going to lose a player.”
What does the Arvidsson trade mean for the Predators
The Nashville Predators traded forward Viktor Arvidsson to the Los Angeles Kings for two draft picks. Nashville gets a 2021 second-round draft pick and a 2022 third-rounder in the exchange.
Arvidsson, 28, registered 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 50 games in 2020-21, his seventh season with Nashville.
“We want to thank Viktor for all he did to propel our organization forward during his time with the Predators,” general manager David Poile said in a release. “His work ethic, tenacity and goal-scoring ability … made him a key part of our teams that reached the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, won the 2018 Presidents’ Trophy and earned back-to-back Central Division titles. We wish him and his family all the best moving forward in Los Angeles.”
Poile discussed the difficulty in moving a player like Arvidsson. “I was happy with our second half, but yet we weren’t good enough to beat Carolina, he said. “I think we need to go in a little bit different direction. I’m not saying that we’re going to make a bunch of changes, but it’s time to make some.”
The Predators now own eight picks — including three in the top 50 — in the 2021 NHL Draft, scheduled for July 23-24. They have one pick in each of the first, third, fifth and sixth rounds, plus two picks in the second and fourth rounds.
–Field Level Media contributed to this article