Viktor Arvidsson Calls Out the Nashville Predators

When Viktor Arvidsson was traded from the Nashville Predators to the Los Angeles Kings for a couple of draft picks, the red flags starting popping up. What were the Preds thinking? Was there an issue with Arvidsson? Turns out he certainly felt there were issues with the team, as the newest Kings forward didn't hold back over the weekend.

Arvidsson spoke to the media about the deal and had this to say about how last season went:

I feel like I didn’t get seen as the all-around player I was, at the end of the day. That’s my honest truth about it. I feel like I need to get that off my chest. I didn’t play the (penalty kill). I didn’t play in all situations, which I did for the last six years. I didn’t play five-on-six and so on. I think I can contribute in all those areas.

The numbers don't lie, the Predators held Arvidsson out of a lot of the major situations and he saw his PK ice-time go from 13th on the team to 25th last season. With only 25 points in 50 games, his stats declined with the lesser role all over the ice and he'll look to get things back on track in California.

The Kings gave up a 2nd and 3rd round pick to acquire Arvidsson and the deal left a bunch of the Preds players pissed off, including Filip Forsberg. Now Nashville has gone ahead and protected a boat load of defenseman in the expansion draft, so their team could look much different next season. Weird times in Smashville. 

Photo credit:  James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports