Montreal Canadiens general manager (GM) Kent Hughes has a very difficult balancing act lying ahead of him in the final few games before the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline. He has to walk the tightrope of who should be kept on the roster to give his young core support to continue to play meaningful games as late into the season as possible, but also maximize the value in a deal for any soon-to-be unrestricted free agents (UFA).
Related: Montreal Canadiens Best Trade Deadline Deals of All-Time
That is the case when it comes to Joel Armia. The Finnish forward is in the final season of a deal that paid him $3.4 million per season. He sits 24th on The Hockey Writers’ Trade Bait List, but he could be listed much higher as interest in the 31-year-old winger continues to rise.
Joel Armia Brings Huge Value
Armia is a big forward (6-foot-4, 218 pounds) who skates well and has displayed good scoring instincts in small samples. He set a career-high for goals (17) in the 2023-24 season, and this season, he is on pace to score 14, however, he is on pace for a career-high in points (34) as he sits at 24 points in 57 games played. This level of offensive production is a strong performance for a third-line two-way forward.
He is a reliable two-way winger, but adding to his value, he is an excellent penalty killer and is even a threat to score shorthanded as three of his 10 goals after 57 games played were scored down a man. But it’s his playoff performances that will add to his overall value.
His play for Montreal during their 2021 run to the Stanley Cup Final was notable. A five-goal, eight-point performance in 21 games doesn’t scream “essential” to most people. However, it was his play on the forecheck, generating a cycle and grinding down opponents that teams would love to add. Especially anyone who watched him play firsthand, such as his teammate Brendan Gallagher.
“They’re definitely not a fourth line, they’re playing big-boy hockey. They’ve been able to put together such long cycle shifts.”
– Brendan Gallagher (after Montreal took a 3-0 series lead over the Winnipeg Jets)
His play that postseason led directly to his four-year deal paying him $3.5 million per season. That may be too much for a fourth liner, but he has been playing third-line minutes, and filling in on the top PK unit. In the playoffs, teams rely on their bottom-six lines to not only create some energy but to provide an offensive spark. That type of gritty, two-way forward is hard to come by come the trade deadline, and he would be an intriguing depth option for teams looking for a playoff performer.
Canadiens’ Trade Value Is Key
While his contract might be a hurdle, Armia’s combination of size, defensive responsibility, and occasional offensive bursts make him an ideal trade deadline candidate. Teams such as the Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, Vegas Golden Knights, and Edmonton Oilers are all in need of bolstering their lineups prior to the playoffs, especially by adding some penalty-killing prowess.
Yet, the issue Hughes faces is that the value in a trade needs to far outweigh the value he brings to a young team needing to compete. While many fans underestimate the value a two-way bottom six forward can have as they focus on all-star names, NHL executives will place a high value on complementary pieces like Armia could be.
‘His value across the league is much higher than some might think,’
said a Western Conference source – via RG.org
His play at the recent 4 Nations Face-Off is likely to have GMs intently watching him between now and the trade deadline. While Armia went pointless in the tournament, his excellent play should have more than one general manager envision him on their team. He played for an offensively challenged Finnish squad, but when it was a do-or-die game against Team Canada, with the winner moving onto the Final against Team USA, their coaching staff chose to sit a multiple 20 goal scorer, Teuvo Teravainen, and instead dress Armia.
So, could a contender be willing to offer a second-round pick in return? That’s a likely scenario, but Hughes is on the look-out for young players from NHL rosters, or who are on the verge of stepping into the NHL instead of picks, as, according to Puckpedia, Montreal holds seven in the first two rounds over the 2025 and 2026 NHL Entry Drafts. It’s no secret that the Canadiens are looking to take the next step in the rebuild, and stockpiling picks won’t help them next season.
The interest in Armia is understandable. Many contenders are always in need of additional depth and secondary scoring, which he can provide. However, he can also add size, grit, and an ability to play either wing. Yet, it will be his ability to dominate on the PK as well as be another veteran with playoff experience added to a roster that will make him invaluable to a contender who is looking to buy ahead of the playoffs. We now wait and see if anyone steps up to pay Hughes’ asking price to acquire Armia from the Canadiens by the deadline.
