When all is said and done, winger Joel Armia could end up being the Montreal
Canadiens' big July free-agent signee.

That statement is more a testament to how underrated the move to trade for him
(and Steve Mason's contract) was by general manager Marc Bergevin than how the
only legitimate NHLer the Habs have acquired via unrestricted free agency has
been an over-the-hill Tomas Plekanec.Armia vs. Plekanec

Even with Plekanec poised to soon become just the sixth Hab to hit 1,000 games
with the team, Armia is the bigger deal. That's obviously saying something,
considering the restricted-free-agent Armia actually re-signed for less money,
$1.85 million over one year compared to $2.25 million for Plekanec (also over
one year).Montreal Canadiens forward Tomas Plekanec - (Jean-Yves Ahern-USA
TODAY Sports)

The Plekanec signing can really only be seen as a way to appease fans by
bringing back a longtime favorite. The alternative would simply be a necessary
strategic decision to re-integrate an experienced leader in the dressing room
(but one who was technically a part of a problem in that room, as publicized by
 Bergevin, before he got traded at the deadline).

Whereas the soon-to-be 36-year-old Plekanec is a bottom-six center at this
point, Armia is a middle-six right-winger just entering his prime as a
25-year-old. Armia is coming off a 12-goal, 29-point season. Those modest
totals would theoretically place him second on the Habs' depth chart on the
right side, just below leading-scorer Brendan Gallagher.One-Man Armia?

In practice, it's hard to envision Armia being anything more than a temporary
solution there, fighting Nikita Scherbak for ice time. He looks instead like a
depth player in the long term. There would be nothing wrong with that, even if
Armia's advanced statistics hint at the potential that made him a first-round
pick once upon a time (coincidentally just before ex-Hab Nathan Beaulieu, at
No. 16 overall in 2011). The key part of that assessment would be "long
term."Joel Armia - (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

While Armia only re-signed for one year late last week, the 25-year-old will
remain a restricted free agent upon the deal's expiry next July 1. So, the Habs
 will retain his rights (barring a trade), making it more of a show-me
contract. Considering his size (6',3", 205 pounds) and defensive ability and
the relatively low expectations around him, everything is aligning perfectly.
He could very well be on his way to becoming an under-the-radar pick-up for
Bergevin that not only reaps benefits well into the future for the
organization, but one who also resonates with fans too.

In other words, he may not be the center Plekanec is, but he is the player fans
 should be most excited about. That's said with all due respect to everything
accomplished by Plekanec with the Canadiens. Long after Plekanec has celebrated
 his upcoming milestone though, Armia will be looking to reach some of his own
with the Habs, playing a similar two-way game to the one that made Plekanec
such a hit.

That's the hope anyway. Fans can use some of that right now.

The post Armia Deal with Canadiens a Win for Both Sides appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.

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