There are some things you can't explain in life. For example, you can't explain how the Las Vegas Strip hustlers dressed up as Spiderman or Sonic the Hedgehog don't overheat from being in their costumes all day. Imagine if someone sprayed fart spray into those things. That would be a nuclear disaster.
But what about when a player who had a bounceback season is still unsigned? That's the problem that Victor Olofsson has right now. It's been nearly three weeks and the Swedish winger still doesn't have a team.
The numbers should certainly warrant a modest deal for the former Golden Knight. He scored 15 goals and 14 assists, with six goals coming on the power play. To put things into perspective, he doubled his goal output from 2023-24 when he was with the Buffalo Sabres.
On top of that, he did all this in 56 games. Imagine what he could do in a full season if he stayed healthy. Ooh man, this is something an NHL team should pounce on immediately.
But that seems to be the issue. Nobody wants to take Olofsson on. Even as some more teams look for depth scoring and power play prowess, they're too scared to try the 30-year-old out. That begs the ultimate question: what's going on with Olofsson?
Why Victor Olofsson hasn't been signed yet
One thing that stood out about Olofsson during his Golden Knights tenure was his inconsistency. In the first four games, the Swedish forward scored three goals, two of which came on the power play.
After returning from a lower-body injury, he followed his three-goal performance with five goals and five assists in December. In January, he scored three goals and three assists.
After that? Four goals and six assists in the last three months combined. There are periods where the 30-year-old doesn't show up when needed, leaving his team hurting for goals. In fact, his last power play goal in 2024-25 was on January 7th against the San Jose Sharks (excluding the postseason).
Speaking of injuries, that's another angle of the issue. He battled an illness, an upper-body injury, and another lower-body injury throughout the season, leaving him less than 100%. That plays into the consistency issue, where you're not performing at a high level.
Fans can point to Alex Pietrangelo as a perfect example of this. Last season, he dealt with a wave of injuries that caused him to opt out of the 4 Nations Faceoff. In turn, fans saw him shrivel up from his first-pair days, leaving behind a shell of a player.
Where would Olofsson fit in best?
Personally, teams like the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks could use some consolation after missing out on Mitch Marner. Obviously, Olofsson won't be an outright replacement for the newest Golden Knights star's production. However, he can serve as a viable depth piece who can contribute on the power play.
He can also serve a purpose on teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota Wild. His hard shot and sniping abilities would fit in seamlessly, giving them a power play edge on the second unit.
Yes, it sucks that the Swedish forward doesn't have a home yet. It's especially baffling since he put up solid production numbers for a lower-line winger. But that shouldn't scare off teams with some money to spend.
Come on, NHL. Pick him up. Don't make me play Sarah McLachlan.