The Montreal Canadiens secured Jake Evans last week, signing the forward to a four-year, $2.8 million deal, which is considered a great value. Now, the team faces another crucial decision with his linemate, Joel Armia. The veteran forward, who has been with Montreal since 2018, is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and the team must decide whether bringing the 31-year-old back is in their best interest. While UFAs like David Savard and Christian Dvorak are likely to hit the market, Armia presents a more compelling case for the Canadiens to retain. Montreal chose to keep him past the trade deadline, but the question remains: will they re-sign Joel Armia beyond this season?
Joel Armia’s Value
Armia’s performance alongside Jake Evans this season has boosted his value, both for the Canadiens and on the open market. It was reported that the Canadiens were offered a second-round pick for his services, but Kent Hughes declined the offer, highlighting how highly Armia is regarded within the organization. Armia has registered 11 goals and 25 points, ranking seventh on the team, and has also become one of the league’s most effective penalty killers.
With Jake Evans earning just under $3 million, Armia could easily fetch a similar salary, potentially closer to $4 million on the open market. However, if he wants to remain in Montreal, it would likely need to be on a team-friendly deal, similar to Evans’ contract. Even if Armia is willing to take a pay cut, other factors could make his return challenging.
Joel Armia’
Rising Young Talent
Montreal boasts one of the NHL’s most impressive groups of young players, many of whom are ready to make the jump to the NHL. Owen Beck and Joshua Roy have excelled in the AHL this season and earned NHL call-ups. Emil Heineman has already established himself in the Canadiens’ bottom-six, and Oliver Kapanen, who began the year in Montreal, has been outstanding in the SHL. Additionally, Ivan Demidov, one of the most exciting prospects in the Canadiens’ system, is expected to join Montreal from Russia next season.
With so many young players on the cusp of making the team, finding room for Joel Armia could prove difficult. Veteran contracts like those of Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson also take up space in the bottom six. Moving those contracts would be challenging this offseason, and a buyout would result in a significant financial hit for the team.
Verdict
Although the Canadiens would likely love to bring Joel Armia back, it seems increasingly unlikely. The forward is set to earn a hefty payday on the open market, one that may be out of Montreal’s price range. With a surplus of young talent emerging, it will be tough to justify bringing Armia back. The only way this could work is if Hughes is able to move one or both of Gallagher and Anderson’s contracts.
The fourth line of Heineman, Evans, and Armia has been a key part of Montreal’s success this year, and the penalty killing duo of Armia and Evans has been instrumental in getting the team into the top 10 in that department for the first time in years. While moving on from such a solid bottom-six forward may not be ideal, the influx of young talent makes it the right move for the Canadiens moving forward.
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