NHL-NEWS: The Florida Panthers have officially acquired the star starting center for the Edmonton Oilers, according to ESPN. A three-year, $29.4 million deal was signed after……

Oilers leap into free agency, adding 2 veteran forwards while retaining playoff standouts

Big new names include Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner

Despite losing to Florida in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final, the Edmonton Oilers didn’t miss a beat on the first day of free agency.

The Oilers signed veteran forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, kept Cup final standout Mattias Janmark and gave forwards Corey Perry and Connor Brown one-year extensions among nearly a dozen moves made Monday.

The 31-year-old Arvidsson, who was signed to a two-year, $8-million US contract, spent the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Kings where he logged 52 goals and 71 assists in 161 games. The five-foot-10, 185-pound right-winger had a goal and nine assists in a combined 11 playoff games against the Oilers this season and in 2023.

Arvidsson says Edmonton defenceman Mattias Ekholm — a fellow Swede — lobbied him hard to become an Oiler.

“He probably didn’t want to play against me again,” Arvidsson joked on a media conference call Monday.

“I had a few teams [interested], but I’ve known Ekky for a long time. Our families know each other well. He convinced me pretty early and I think that was a big part of it, too.

“It’s going to be fun and exciting to have some snow again.”