Canadiens Veteran Forward Becoming Trade Candidate

The Montreal Canadiens' big trade chip up front, Sean Monahan, has already been dealt, but that doesn't mean that their cupboards are bare on the forwards trade market. Word from insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period is that winger Joel Armia is becoming a trade candidate. 

The 30-year-old is on an expensive contract for a player of his production, with another year remaining at a $3.4 million cap hit. But he's been playing well for a good stretch now after the embarrassment of starting the season by clearing waivers and serving a couple of stints in the AHL. If the Habs would retain perhaps 50% on his contract, he could be, as Pagnotta notes, an affordable bottom-six depth piece for a team in need. Montreal does have one retention slot remaining after sending Monahan's entire $1.985 million cap hit to Winnipeg.

Armia has just 12 points (but with 9 goals) in 39 games this season, coming off three straight years in which he netted disappointing identical 14-point totals. 

But the 6-foot-3 forward's performance in the 2021 playoffs showed what Armia at full-strength could be, and is what earned him the relatively pricey four-year deal he's in the middle of. 

“You can see his size, obviously we know he has a good shot, but you can see it, he can make plays," said head coach Martin St. Louis this week. "I think Army’s just in a good place. I think he’s found joy playing this game at this level with everything the game is asking him to do, what the game brings. I think because of that, he’s found some consistency."

If there's a team that feels that he could bring that level of game with him to a new situation, the Habs could get some return for him, and get off some money for next year. 

In his 10-year career, Armia, a former first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres, has 84 goals and 81 assists for 165 points in 478 NHL games.

Photo: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports