Montreal Canadiens: Three Players Who Could Be Traded To Get Habs Under The Salary Cap

Joel Armia

Joel Armia was acquired from the Winnipeg Jets as a prize for taking on the final year of Steve Mason’s large contract. Mason was immediately bought out and the Jets were happy enough to get rid of him that they also handed over a promising former first round pick.

Armia has bloomed into a respectable NHL player. He reads the play tremendously well, is very efficient and intelligent defensively, and also puts his fair share of pucks into the net. The big, Finnish right winger scored 16 times and had 30 points in 58 games last season. He added another three goals and five point in ten postseason games.

The 27 year old is obviously about a half of a point per game player and he takes on minutes in all situations. He is a great penalty killer, plays responsible minutes at even strength and has been handed opportunities on the man advantage as well.

So, why would the Habs want to move him out?

Well, it is not that the Habs want to move him out, but it might make the most sense to trade Armia since someone has to go.

First of all, the Habs only added two forwards, but they both play right wing. Anderson and Toffoli are going to play top nine minutes and Brendan Gallagher of course will as well. That pushes Armia into a fourth line role. Also, Cole Caufield is likely going to finish the season in the NHL, so the Habs are tremendously deep at right wing.

Toffoli is sure to take on power play time which likely comes at Armia’s expense. So, even if the Habs keep Armia, he will have a drastically reduced role compared to last season.

Also, Armia is entering the final year of his contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. With all the new players coming to town and Gallagher, Tatar and Danault still needing extensions, there won’t be room for Armia beyond 2020-21 anyway.

He is still a very useful player and would fetch a small return for the Habs, but clearing out his $2.6 million for next season would give the Habs enough space and also a little room to add at the trade deadline.