Player Discussion Joel Armia turnaround year?

[WeThreeKings]

If they are re-signing him, it should be one year deals only. We have a lot of promising players who need room to make it into the line-up eventually and that's harder to do when your bottom 6 all has term.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

If they are re-signing him, it should be one year deals only. We have a lot of promising players who need room to make it into the line-up eventually and that's harder to do when your bottom 6 all has term.

I think 2 years would be okay too. No real impact on trade ability and improves chances of him staying.

 

[Scriptor]

I have zero problem with Armia at 2 X 2M or 2 X 2.5M. He becomes easily traceable if a youngster comes knocking.

At worse, even when he isn't scoring, he is a puck possession monster and his physical presence in this capacity is essential to a continued strong forecheck, IMO. His work on the PK also helps solidify your lineup. I don't really think there are that many players ready to leapfrog into the NHL in such a role as a winger.

The problem isn't Armia, but, rather, Anderson and Gallagher who are signed longer term and unmovable at their Cap hit with that remaining term. That's what makes Armia a trade chip presently, to free up some space for prospects with designs on an NHL roster spot.

If Montreal re-signs Evans (as they likely will, given the uncertainty at C in the short to medium term, barring a trade or a draft lottery win into the top-3), Beck can likely replace Dvorak and we get one last crack at project Dach who will need to stay healthy an entire season and play consistently at a top-6 level at C to calm fans' fears and meet expectations. Suzuki is a proven commodity and a 1st line lock if he continues to progress to a PPG level, or beyond.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I have zero problem with Armia at 2 X 2M or 2 X 2.5M. He becomes easily traceable if a youngster comes knocking.

At worse, even when he isn't scoring, he is a puck possession monster and his physical presence in this capacity is essential to a continued strong forecheck, IMO. His work on the PK also helps solidify your lineup. I don't really think there are that many players ready to leapfrog into the NHL in such a role as a winger.

The problem isn't Armia, but, rather, Anderson and Gallagher who are signed longer term and unmovable at their Cap hit with that remaining term. That's what makes Armia a trade chip presently, to free up some space for prospects with designs on an NHL roster spot.

If Montreal re-signs Evans (as they likely will, given the uncertainty at C in the short to medium term, barring a trade or a draft lottery win into the top-3), Beck can likely replace Dvorak and we get one last crack at project Dach who will need to stay healthy an entire season and play consistently at a top-6 level at C to calm fans' fears and meet expectations. Suzuki is a proven commodity and a 1st line lock if he continues to progress to a PPG level, or beyond.

I can live with Anderson.. but Gallagher after his hot start is basically doing nothing but going off-side whenever he has the puck. He's not even penalty killing and he's a blackhole on PP2.

There is no chair for Gallagher. Anderson at least re-invented himself into a physical, penalty killing bottom sixer with speed who can occasionally put the puck in the net. He's overpaid, yes, but he carved a niche.

Gallagher is overpaid and has no niche.

 

[Deebs]

If the team falls out of a playoff spot, trade Armia. If we're in the mix, keep him and treat him as a picked up player at the deadline. The great thing about him this year is he's playing well and no matter how we finish up the year, it will help us because we either get a decent return on him or he helps us until we're out. Army should not be re-signed because so incredibly inconsistent and unreliable.

If the team does bring him back, as you say, 1 year deals should be the only thing on the table and I'm not sure he accepts but ya never know.

If they are re-signing him, it should be one year deals only. We have a lot of promising players who need room to make it into the line-up eventually and that's harder to do when your bottom 6 all has term.

 

[A55P2]

We have to remember that the guy is a slow starter. It's been like this every single year. He's almost invisible for the first 20-25 games then he turns it on and becomes an essential part of us winning games.

If we're to make the playoffs he's valuable and I guess we sort of have to be OK with him being a slow starter because he'll be there when it counts.

 

[BLONG7]

This is a frustrating player...............Armia is not having a turnaround year........his agent and wife reminded him he has NO contract next year. He loves to disappear for 8-9 games at a time, most of his career.
He is not worth 3.4M and never was..............

He has played well, but if they do decide to keep him, no way do they pay him more than 2.5M for the next 2-3 seasons.................he is an off guy more than an on guy.
He is hard to watch more often than not........