A surprising speculation about Joel Armia's next contract

The hefty Finnish forward of the Montreal Canadiens scored his 17th goal of the season last night in his team's 9-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. For Joel Armia, this milestone represents a career high in a single season.

For the past month, the 30-years-old Finnish has been playing his best moments in the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge jersey. With one year left on his contract, speculation about the value of his next contract is stirring among hockey insiders.

One such speculation comes from Marc-Olivier Beaudoin, a well-known internet user on platform X for his insights into NHL activities. He speculated about Joel Armia's next contract in a post on X, suggesting an annual salary of $2 million for a period of 2 years.

It's worth nothing that the hefty Finn currently earns $3.4 million for the 2023-2024 season as well as the upcoming 2024-2025 campaign. This means that Armia may have to accept a salary drop, even though he's currently enjoying his best moments in the NHL.


It's important not to forget that the forward had to make two visits in the minor leagues with the Laval Rocket this season. His lack of consistency and intensity in his work was evidently problematic. However, in recent weeks, the Sainte-Flanelle's number 40 has been unrecognizable.

Intense, excellent in forechecking, he retrieves a lot of pucks and wrests the puck away from opposing defenders, all while effectively protecting it; it's a transformation that's difficult to explain. His offensive production is evident, as he ranks 4th among the Canadiens' top scorers in 2023-2024 behind Suzuki, Caufield, and Slafkovsky.

It's also important to remember that Joel Armia excels in penalty killing, and his defensive play is more than adequate in his own zone. When he puts in the necessary effort on the ice, he's not the same player who has shown inconsistent performances in the past.

One wonders about the value Kent Hughes places on Joel Armia. Will he consider parting ways with him during the offseason? Will he offer him a contract extension?

It's quite possible that the Montreal Canadiens' general manager will wait until the start of the next campaign to address Joel Armia's situation. Will his recent performances be sustainable over a longer period?

Only time will tell us...