Predators' Arvidsson wants bigger taste of NHL

There is little that outwardly distinguishes Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson from the dozens of other fresh-faced prospects at the team's development camp.

The 22-year-old, however, has the distinction of being the most NHL-experienced player among his peers. Arvidsson appeared in six games last season with Nashville, enjoying a taste of the NHL that whetted his appetite for what he hopes is to come.

"I learned a lot, like what it takes to play on the NHL level," Arvidsson said. "It's a bit different than the AHL. I feel like I got more mature and stuff like that in my game, and I'm ready to take the next step."

Arvidsson arrived stateside from his native Sweden last fall for his first professional season in North America. Milwaukee Admirals coach Dean Evason expected the rigors of the AHL, particularly the three-games-in-three-nights nature of the league's schedule, to eventually catch up to Arvidsson.

"We thought he would really fall off as the year went," Evason said. "We honestly were thinking we would have had to monitor him a little bit more as far as his ice time on those nights. And he just kept pushing through."

Instead, Arvidsson led the Admirals with 55 points, finished third among AHL rookies in scoring, earned a place on the league's All-Rookie team, received a call-up to the Predators in March and became the only player chosen in the fourth round of the 2014 draft to play in the NHL.

"You saw him in the games that he was here, his skating ability is fantastic," Evason said. "But what sets him apart is he really competes, and he's very strong for a little guy.

"His speed was great. I think he's got to find a way to give-and-go a little bit more here. It's so much more structured in the NHL that guys are in better position. In the American League, he can go by people and you only have to beat that one person. Here, he goes by somebody and there's that second person there. ... I think (his offensive style) will translate here if he recognizes that and continues to work at it."

Having led the AHL in shots with 272 last season, Arvidsson sees a natural fit with the Predators, who became a much more aggressive team during coach Peter Laviolette's first season.

"I think he's playing attack hockey and offensive hockey," Arvidsson said. "That fits me. I feel confident when I'm up here. I wouldn't be up here if they didn't like what I do, so I'm just going to keep doing what I have done and get better at it."

Reach Adam Vingan at 615-259-8023 and on Twitter @AdamVingan

Viktor Arvidsson

Age: 22

Birthplace: Skelleftea, Sweden

Draft: Fourth round (No. 112), 2014

2014-15 statistics: NHL: Six games, nine shots on goal; AHL: 70 games, 22 goals, 55 points