Trade market: a big rumor has just been confirmed involving Joel Armia, and the Washington Capitals are targeted as a possible destination

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Elias Edmonson
October 29, 2023 (3:57 PM)

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Joel Armia's debut with the Laval Rocket was very convincing at the beginning of the month.

His four goals and one assist in four games, combined with an excellent attitude and overall play, earned him a recall by the main team to compensate for the loss of Kirby Dach.

Some believe that this recall was meant, in addition to adding a member to the team, to showcase the veteran. As David Pagnotta points out, Kent Hughes has been working for a long time to trade him, and discussions on this subject have recently picked up again.

"The Canadiens have recalled Joel Armia from the AHL. They tried to trade him off-season, and it's said that they resumed trade talks this week. We'll see if any ground has been made. He still has one year left to finish his contract with a cap hit of $3.4 million."

The rumor is confirmed; they truly tried to trade him off-season.

If trading Armia seems like a complex task for Kent Hughes, time has proven that the GM knows how to maneuver in such situations. He has often succeeded, since his arrival at the helm of the club, in surprising everyone and shedding heavy contracts. There are solutions to trade Armia, and he will find one.

Speaking of solutions, here's one that Hughes should consider. As the excellent Marco D'Amico points out, he will need to find a team that wants to free up cap space this season by giving up a big contract to take on Armia's (two more years).

This type of player was actually in town recently during the Capitals' visit, and his name is Anthony Mantha. The contract of the Quebecer, with a cap hit of $5.7M, will end at the conclusion of the current season. An Armia/Mantha trade could give nearly $2.3M more in cap space for the Caps. However, they would have to keep their new acquisition for two more years, not just one.