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Could Viktor Arvidsson Follow the Same Path as Vladimir Tarasenko in Detroit?
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- Could Viktor Arvidsson Follow the Same Path as Vladimir Tarasenko in Detroit?
One of the Detroit Red Wings ' offseason signings has some fans hoping history doesn't repeat itself, with one addition drawing comparisons to a similar bet that didn't pan out in Hockeytown as recently as last year.
With Patrick Kane's future in Detroit uncertain heading into the summer, the Red Wings went looking for a way to replace some of that scoring punch and landed on Viktor Arvidsson, signing the 33-year-old to a two-year, $10 million deal on July 1. Arvidsson is coming off a strong bounce-back season in Boston, posting 25 goals and 29 assists for 54 points in 69 games, his best output since a 34-goal campaign with Nashville back in 2018-19.
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That kind of rebound is exactly what has some fans drawing a parallel to Vladimir Tarasenko's brief stint in Detroit . Both players have had up-and-down stretches over the back half of their careers, and Arvidsson's big season in Boston mirrors, at least on paper, the kind of momentum Tarasenko carried into Detroit after his own strong run.
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Tarasenko arrived in Detroit after helping the Florida Panthers win the 2024 Stanley Cup, posting 55 points in 76 games between Ottawa and Florida that season. The Red Wings hoped he could carry that over, but it didn't work out, as Tarasenko slumped to 33 points in 80 games before being dealt.
Arvidsson will get every opportunity to avoid a similar outcome. He's expected to slot into Detroit 's middle six, either working alongside Alex DeBrincat if the lines shuffle or playing a complementary role on the third line with regular power-play time. He's been a productive even-strength scorer for most of his career, with 171 of his 219 career goals coming at five-on-five, an area where Detroit could use the help. There's also a personal element to the fit, as Arvidsson has said he grew up a Red Wings fan.
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Whether the comparison to Tarasenko holds up will likely come down to health and fit as much as anything else. Arvidsson has dealt with his share of injuries over the years, but last season's 69-game showing in Boston suggests he may have found a more sustainable role.
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