The stars are aligned for an impending trade involving Joel Armia and the return may surprise

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Jeff Drouin
June 1, 2022 (10:36 PM)

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If there is one player who has had a difficult season with the Canadiens, it is Finnish forward Joel Armia.

After shining in the playoffs last year, his production has dropped dramatically this year as he has only collected 14 points, including 6 goals, in 60 games and some rumors were even suggesting that Kent Hughes was thinking of buying out his contract.

However, as my colleague Christian Matte of Marqueur.com reports, Armia may very well have regained some luster thanks to his fine showing with the Finnish team at the last World Hockey Championship.

Jimmy Murphy, who covers the Habs for Montreal Hockey Now, weighed in on this in his latest column and he believes that if Kent Hughes intends to trade his forward, timing would be perfect right now.

"They've noticed him from what I've been told, and if the Canadiens want to try to trade him again, there might not be a better time."

Murphy even suggested that the Habs would be able to get an attractive draft pick in return for Armia's services, but not to expect more.

A pick is more realistic because of his contract. They might have to take back a smaller contract to make it work, then a pick with it. If it's a team that has cap issues. If not, it would be a second or third round."

A return that might surprise many.

Still interesting in the circumstances if we consider that the Finnish forward is more often than not used on a third and fourth line and that there are still three years left on his contract that pays him $ 3.4 million per year.

As he did with the likes of Brett Kulak, Artturi Lehkonen and Ben Chiarot, it's quite possible, once again, that Kent Hughes can manage to get the most value for a player, if of course, the idea of trading Armia is in his plans.