Kings get Arvidsson back for season debut vs. Devils
Kings forward Viktor Arvidsson is making his season debut against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, Los Angeles head coach Jim Hiller confirmed Thursday, according to NHL.com's Mike Morreale.
Arvidsson last played during the Kings' first-round loss to the Edmonton Oilers in April. He's been held out of action since undergoing back surgery in October. Arvidsson also had back surgery in spring 2022, forcing him to miss that year's playoffs. He appeared in all but five games last season, totaling 26 goals and 59 points.
Los Angeles activated Arvidsson off long-term injured reserve earlier on Thursday, placing forwards Carl Grundstrom and Blake Lizotte on it in the process.
It's been a roller-coaster ride of a season for the Kings, who were red-hot to start the campaign and set a new NHL record by winning 11 straight games on the road. They've floundered of late, posting a 4-8-5 record since the calendar flipped to 2024.
Los Angeles fired head coach Todd McLellan during All-Star Weekend, replacing him with Jim Hiller in the interim.
The Kings rank 15th in the league in goals per game (3.10).
Arvidsson has amassed 173 goals and 347 points in 528 career games. The Kings acquired the 30-year-old from the Nashville Predators in July 2021 in exchange for a second-round pick and a third-rounder.
He can become an unrestricted free agent this summer after playing out the final season of a seven-year, $29.75-million contract.