Kings sign forward Joel Armia to two-year contract
The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms on a contract with unrestricted free agent forward Joel Armia, hockey insider Frank Seravalli first reported Tuesday morning.
Armia, 32, collected 11 goals and 29 points in 81 games with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2024-25 regular season. The 6’3″ right wing added two assists in five playoff contests with the Habs and also represented his native Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, Armia’s deal with the Kings is for two years at a $2.5 million AAV.
Sources say Joel Armia will be joining #LAKings.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2025two years x $2.5 M AAV for Armia in LA https://t.co/uf01ZwLmzQ
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2025A first-round pick (No. 16 overall) of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2011 NHL Draft, Armia made his NHL debut with the Sabres in the 2014-15 season but only played in one game with the club before being included in a memorable trade with the Winnipeg Jets.
On February 11, 2015, Armia was sent to Winnipeg alongside Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, Brendan Lemieux, and a 2015 first-round pick (Jack Roslovic) in exchange for Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian, and goalie prospect Jason Kasdorf. The move kick-started Armia’s career, as he emerged as a full-fledged NHLer over his three seasons in Winnipeg.
With the Jets needing to clear space under the salary cap after their run to the Western Conference Final in 2018, Armia ended up being one of the odd men out. That summer, the Jets traded him alongside goaltender Steve Mason and two draft picks to the Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Simon Bourque.
Over seven seasons in Montreal, Armia cemented himself as a valuable bottom-six forward with offensive upside, topping out with 16 goals and 30 points in just 58 games with the team in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season. Save for a brief spell with the AHL’s Laval Rocket in 2023-24, Armia was consistently a fixture in the Canadiens’ lineup and provided multiple dimensions with his size, skill, and ability to stay out of the penalty box.
Through 586 career games over parts of 11 seasons with the Sabres, Jets, and Canadiens, Armia has collected 103 goals and 207 points. He’s added 10 goals and 17 points in 49 career playoff contests.