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While no official rankings or polls exist to determine the top free-agent acquisition of the NHL season, Viktor Arvidsson would certainly be a strong candidate near the top of any such list.
The Detroit Red Wings signed Arvidsson on July 1 primarily to fill the role vacated by Patrick Kane, who departed for Chicago. So far, Arvidsson has proven to be far more than just a stopgap solution.
Although he was held off the scoresheet in Saturday's 5-4 loss to St. Louis on October 31, Arvidsson has accumulated 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 14 games, maintaining a point-per-game pace that has seamlessly filled his role.
Arvidsson cited his familiarity with coach Todd McLellan from their time together with the Los Angeles Kings as a key factor in his decision. 'Just Todd and that kind of thing,' Arvidsson said when asked what appealed to him. 'They needed some five-on-five scoring, and I saw myself providing that and some experience. I'm just trying to do my part and work hard and try to go to the net as much as I can.'
The Red Wings are witnessing firsthand why Arvidsson has always been effective around the net. There's a ferocity, a will, and a determination to reach the tough areas and pounce on any loose pucks lying around.
'He's an energizer,' McLellan said. 'There's no neutral. You're either giving off energy and making others around you excited and energized, or you're sucking it out. There really is no neutral. If you're on the positive side, the more guys we can have on the positive side, the better off we are. Arvy's indicator is almost always on the positive side because he does do those things. He's fearless, goes to the paint. He knows where he has to go to score goals. If I'm one of the others on our team or any team and I haven't scored in a while, I probably pay attention to him.'
Sandin-Pellikka Sent to Grand Rapids
With defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka seeing limited usage—appearing in only seven games with one assist while averaging 12 minutes, 42 seconds of ice time—the Red Wings assigned him to Grand Rapids and recalled veteran Jacob Bernard-Docker. The development and impressive play of rookies Anton Johansson and William Wallinder pushed Sandin-Pellikka down the depth chart, and the 2023 first-round pick needs to play regularly.
McLellan acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. 'We're probably not dealing with it very well because he has been sitting and Axe needs to play now,' McLellan said. 'We also have to make decisions based on our lineup and we like what we're seeing from some players and how they're playing together. So unfortunately, when you don't go 11 (forwards and seven defensemen), there's a D-man that sits out. When you go 12 (forwards) and six (defensemen), you have two (defensemen) sitting out. It's been tough. He has to play.'
Ice Chips
Saturday's loss to the Blues marked the first time this season the Red Wings lost in regulation after leading or being tied after 40 minutes. Wallinder set a career high with six blocked shots, tying a season high by a Wings player (Moritz Seider also had six). Seven of Detroit's last 10 games have been decided by one goal, with a 3-1-3 record in those contests. The Red Wings lead all NHL teams with 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) from rookies this season. Detroit outshot St. Louis 8-1 in the first period, marking the first time the franchise held an opponent to one or fewer shots in the first period of a regular-season game since January 19, 2008, at San Jose. The Red Wings have allowed fewer than 20 shots on goal four times this season; they allowed fewer than 20 shots on goal five times during the entire 2025-26 season.
Originally reported by yahoo.