The biggest problem has been Nashville's back end after it traded hard-hitting, shot-blocking defenseman Shea Weber to the Montreal Canadiens for Subban; Nashville is allowing 2.90 goals per game compared to 2.60 last season. Defenseman Ryan Ellis, who contributes at both ends of the ice, should help after returning from injury Dec. 13.
But, back to Arvidsson: the 23-year-old native of Sweden is second on the Predators in scoring with 20 points (behind Johansen's 21) and leads the team in shots on goal (95). He's 79th among all players in Yahoo's performance-based rankings and tied for the Predators lead in even-strength points (14) with Ribeiro and Forsberg.
To sweeten his fantasy appeal, he gained an extra position in Yahoo's most-recent position eligibility update Thursday. He followed with an assist and three SOG against the Minnesota Wild to extend his point streak to five games. He has two goals, four assists, 18 SOG and is plus-3 in the span.
This is the classic case of an under-the-radar prospect having to work for everything he has gained in an organization bursting with talent. Arvidsson split time between the Predators and Milwaukee of the American Hockey League in each of the past two regular seasons before playing all 14 games for Nashville in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
He was a middle-round gem in the 2014 NHL Draft (No. 112, by Nashville) who was overlooked despite playing on back-to-back championship teams with Skelleftea of the Swedish Hockey League in 2012-13 and 2013-14. He combined for 24 points in 27 games in those two postseason runs.
