The Nashville Predators only just got Viktor Arvidsson back off injured reserve before having to send him back with a new injury, and today they revealed how long he’ll be out for. Adam Vingan of The Athletic reports that Arvidsson will miss six to eight weeks with a broken thumb, meaning the talented forward could very well be out of the lineup for the rest of 2018.
Arvidsson is one of the heartbeats of the Predators offense, and was off to a great start this season with eight goals and 13 points in his first 13 games. That put him well on his way to another 30-goal season, and may have even gotten him over the 61-point mark he’s hit the last two seasons. Now, by missing two months in the middle of the season he will almost assuredly miss both of those milestones. The Predators will suffer because of it, especially given the fact that P.K. Subban has also been moved to injured reserve and will be out at least a week. The team still sits in first place in the Central Division, but is at risk of being caught by the Minnesota Wild or Winnipeg Jets, both currently within four points.
The 25-year old’s return will feel like a trade deadline acquisition for the Predators, who despite wanting to win the Central are focused on the postseason this year. The team is once again considered a favorite for the Stanley Cup, but will need all hands on deck to defeat some of the other powerhouses in the Western Conference. Subban and Arvidsson are key players who absolutely must be healthy by the time the playoffs roll around, meaning the team will surely play it slow with their recovery timelines.