The Los Angeles Kings won't stop making moves in free agency. Earlier, they tendered future star Alex Laferriere, before shifting gears and bringing in the ageless Corey Perry. The Kings also brought in Joel Armia on a two-year deal worth $2.5 AAV.
Armia coming to town may cause some fans to scoff, as his play's never been the most spectacular. But he's an underrated, and really, underappreciated asset who just helped a team that was supposed to do nothing last season sneak into the playoffs.
That's the kind of experience you want in the City of Angels, and it's why Armia's presence will pay off as the Kings look to finally win a playoff series again. While Armia couldn't get further than the first round with the Habs last season, the fact nobody expected them to get anywhere near a playoff berth says a lot about what the Kings are getting.
Joel Armia's not a flashy move for the Los Angeles Kings, but it's a smart one
In 81 games, Joel Armia finished with a meager 29 points and 11 goals, good for just a 10.6 shooting percentage. Those numbers aren't breaking any records, and they're not going to help the Kings out much in the goal-scoring realm.
But Armia's bringing a relatively physical presence to the Kings, and he's someone who can dish out steady middle-six minutes. Plus, he's a solid defensive forward and coming to a team known for its defense. So, Armia's taking what's been a strength in LA and making it stronger.
And you really don't even need him to spend much time in the offensive zone at all to best utilize him. An incredible 70.2 percent of all his starts last season came in the defensive zone at even strength, and he finished the season with just a 44.7 Corsi For percentage. That said, this is a forward who lives in the defensive zone.
Again, there's nothing flashy here. But if Armia's bringing some energy, physicality, and stopping sequences when the Kings don't have the puck, he's doing his job. And that's all that should matter if you're a Kings fan.
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