Updated at 4:48 PM: New Red Wings forward Viktor Arvidsson met with the Red Wings’ media corps today, and he spoke with the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan about joining a historically Swedish-tinged team…
“For me it’s really exciting,” Arvidsson said Thursday on a Zoom call with Detroit media. “Growing up and watching the Red Wings and Avalanche go at it, and all those players that I grew up watching like (Peter) Forsberg, (Henrik) Zetterberg and (Pavel) Datsyuk, and (Steve) Yzerman, and Kris Draper, all those guys. Then talking to Drapes last night, I was almost like ‘I played as you on video games’. It’s pretty surreal if you think about it.”
Arvidsson, 33, signed a two-year contract worth $10 million ($5 million annual average value) Wednesday, filling a Wings need for offense. Arvidsson had somewhat of a comeback last season in Boston, scoring 25 goals (with 29 assists), and playing a relentless brand of hockey he’s known for.
Facing the Wings in divisional games last season, Arvidsson felt the Wings were close to a playoff team.
“I think so,” Arvidsson said. “This year the division and wild card were so tight, but it’s a great team, a great defense core and a lot of speed and skill up front. You need to mesh that together and be more consistent. That’s what this league is all about, consistency, and if you can do that night in and night out, and don’t drop too much.”
Arvidsson discussed his relationship with Wings coach Todd McLellan, for whom Arvidsson played in LA…
“He’s really structured, always has a plan,” Arvidsson said. “It’s defense first and if you play really good defense, you’ll have success and offense. That’s a big part that I like about him. He’s honest and straight up with all the players, and everybody around the team, so I like that. A little bit of old school. I knew Todd from before and I really liked playing under him, so it was kind of an easy decision. I’m happy to be a Red Wing and it’s going to be fun.”
Arvidsson continued while speaking with the Free Press’s Helene St. James…
“We we talked after it was done and we were both happy that it happened,” Arvidsson said on Thursday, July 2. “We had a great conversation yesterday after everything was done, and we we were just happy that we get to be on the same team again.”
While the Wings still have numerous issues to address − the Dylan Larkin trade request remains unresolved, and with Patrick Kane having spurned attempts to re-sign him before free agency, the big question is where the offense will come from − Arvidsson was a good acquisition. He’s not a top-line guy, but he can play on the second or third line, and wherever he is in the lineup, he’s tenacious and drives to the net.
“I’m going to bring a competitive aspect of the game and try to be a role model for the younger guys and just to bring some leadership,” Arvidsson said. “Just try to play hard and put my best in front and just go from there.”
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Especially appealing to the Wings is that 21 of Arvidsson’s goals last season came at even strength. Arvidsson credited stability as a key factor.
“I’ve always been good five-on-five and scored and created offense,” Arvidsson said. “I just felt like going from L.A. to Edmonton − I kind of got stuck in Edmonton a little bit with not playing consistently five-on-five and playing with a lot of different people and stuff like that during during games. And then I play with the same players and create that chemistry with certain players. I think we meshed together last year really well. It was fun to play. I get chances, and I like to be around the net and find loose pucks. That’s a big part of my game.”
And he spoke with the Hockey News’s Michael Whitaker as well…
Not only is Arvidsson a quick skater who can play with an edge, but he also brings an effectiveness in five-on-five scoring that the Red Wings have sorely lacked.
“I’m going to bring a competitive aspect to the game, and try and be a role model for the younger guys, and just to bring some leadership and try to play hard, and put my best in front and just go from there.”
Arvidsson played with fellow Swede Lucas Raymond during the Winter Olympics in Milan, and also has trained with Axel Sandin-Pellikka during the offseason.
He’s played twice now in the Stanley Cup Final, with the Predators in 2017 and with the Edmonton Oilers in 2024. Meanwhile, the Red Wings are stuck in the NHL’s longest postseason drought.
Having already skated in 91 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, Arvidsson wants to be part of the solution that brings postseason hockey back to Detroit.
“That’s always my goal, to get together as a group and win games together,” he said. “Every team is saying this when Training Camp starts, that they’ll be a team that makes the playoffs. It’s a tough League to go into and make the playoffs, but second of all, go all the way. That’s my goal every year: to play meaningful hockey.”
Update: Here’s more from MLive’s Ansar Khan:
Arvidsson is coming off a 25-goal, 54-point season in Boston. A deeper dive into his numbers shows he led the Bruins in five-on-five goals (1.31) and points (3.06) per 60 minutes. That’s even more efficient than Alex DeBrincat, the Red Wings’ leading scorer who averaged 0.89 goals and 2.36 points per 60.
“I’ve always been good five-on-five and scored and created offense five-on-five, and defensively I’ve been good,” Arvidsson said. “Going from L.A. to Edmonton I kind of got stuck in Edmonton a little bit with not playing consistently five-on-five and playing with a lot of different people during games. In Boston, I play with the same players (Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt), and you create that chemistry. We meshed together really well, and it was fun to play. I just think I compete hard for puck. That’s a big part of my game.”
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The native of Skelleftea, Sweden, played with Lucas Raymond at the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 and trains back home with Axel Sandin-Pellikka.
He is familiar with the Red Wings after playing them three times last season.
“Great D corps, and a lot of speed and skill up front,” Arvidsson said. “You need to mesh that together and maybe be more consistent because that’s what this league is about, consistency and that you can do it night out, night in and don’t drop too much.”
