Kings’ Viktor Arvidsson: ‘It feels good to be able to push the envelope’

EDMONTON, Alberta — While the rest of his Kings teammates in Edmonton were getting ready for Game 2 in the playoffs last year against the Oilers, Viktor Arvidsson left town.

He didn’t play in the regular-season finale in 2022, missed the playoff opener and the rest of the series.

“I got hurt a few days before and we tried, I tried, to go on the ice. I tried to go on the ice, but it was just not really there,” he said on Monday. “I couldn’t. Flew home after Game 1 and had to get stuff figured out. So I wasn’t really that close (to playing).”

Arvidsson was talking in the dressing room after the Kings’ morning skate, a few hours before Game 1 here at Rogers Place. The decisions Arvidsson ultimately had to make last spring led to the call to have surgery to repair a herniated disc (microdiscectomy) in mid-May.

The absences of Arvidsson and injured defenseman Drew Doughty were keenly felt by the Kings in last year’s series against the Oilers, which went Edmonton’s way in seven games. Doughty’s excitement in returning to playoff action has been palpable, and while more low-key, Arvidsson was looking forward to taking part in his first playoff game with the Kings.

“It’s been challenging, lots of ups and downs, summer was tough,” Arvidsson said. “Season had been going good. Got a lot of help from the medical team. It’s been great so far, so just going to keep going.”

For Arvidsson, it’s been a particular point of pride that he was able to play 77 of 82 games this season, the most since he played 78 games in 2017-18 with the Nashville Predators. And his 59 points this season was his best total since he had 61 in 2017-18.