Montreal Canadiens: Joel Armia Deserves Another Chance

It’s so easy to criticize a player from the comfort of your own home, and lord knows we must have criticized everyone not named Nick Suzuki or Youppi on the Montreal Canadiens‘ roster this season.

Joel Armia is one player that received a lot of flack throughout the year. Often called out for what seemed like uninspired play, even I recently wrote that I came close to putting him on a list of players that should simply get the this offseason and offload his $3.4 million salary that runs until the end of the 2024-25 season.

That was until some digging was made and got me to change my mind. At least for now.

The hulking 6’4″ 218 lbs winger had an absolutely horrific season. While last season he had a rather underwhelming year statistically, scoring 7 goals and 7 assists for 14 points in 41 games, he amped up his defensive play and was one of the many undervalued parts of the Canadiens’ run to the Stanley Cup Finals. In the playoffs, Armia scored 5 goals and 3 assists for 8 points in 21 games.

2021-22 saw similar stats, another 14 points but this time in 60 games and clearly not the same kind of Armia we saw last season.

While he will never be known to give his all every single shift, when he’s on, Armia can be a force to be reckoned with. We’ve often mentioned his elite puck possession skills and when he feels like it, he can hit. Hard.

Everyone including the concession stand employees turned their season around under Martin St. Louis. Armia was a rare exception.

The Canadiens do a great job in trying to protect their players’ personal lives. However, it’s Armia’s personal life that is the likely culprit to such an abysmal year.

Remember Armia left the team at the end of the season for family reasons. Turns out, it was due to his wife, Emilia Harjunen, giving birth to their first child. A wonderful bundle of joy named Emma.

It is said that Armia was extremely nervous throughout the pregnancy (anyone who has awaited their first child would know this feeling) and was extremely home sick throughout the season as his wife stayed behind in Pori, Finland.

Worrying about your pregnant wife, making you homesick all while travelling North American and try to survive one of the worst seasons in franchise history would take a toll on anyone.

Armia has recently stepped it up as he is currently representing his native Finland in the World Championship. He had a goal and an assist as Finland shutout Denmark 5-0.

Armia played with such determination and passion that he was voted Player of the Day.

Maybe it’s the number 10 he’s wearing that’s giving him extra wings, but Armia seems comfortable and is even smiling again. Signs that things are going well on the homefront.

As the Canadiens are searching for that mix of extra grit and skill up front, Armia could be an internal candidate should he be able to elevate his game.

If he enters training camp with a clear mind and an absolute desire to perform like he is capable of, he could be in for some very good seasons even as the Canadiens rebuild.

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