Los Angeles Kings forward Joel Armia is one of the newest players on the Kings roster for the 2025-26 season.GM Ken Holland brought him in to be a key players in the bottom six and on the penalty kill. Not only has he been that, he has also been productive offensively. His time with the Kings has been short, but he is living up to the contract he signed in the offseason.
Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres with the 16th pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, he has also made stops in Winnipeg and Montreal. He has been known as a defensive specialist but can also add his name to the scoresheet. He is not a physical player but uses his 6-foot-3 and 215-pound body to create chances in the offensive zone and separate opposing players from the puck. His money maker is being on the penalty kill to which he is one of the best penalty killers in the league.
Holland also brought in Armia to contribute both offensively and defensively in the lineup, as well as use his skill set to kill penalties. He signed a 2-year/ $5 million deal with Los Angeles on the opening day of free agency and has already earned it. While not one of the biggest names available in free agency, he could have one of the biggest impacts on the Kings roster. This season, he has two goals and four assists for six points, eight penalty minutes, one short-handed goal, 11 hits, four blocked shots, and a 60% faceoff winning percentage. He is fourth in team scoring.
Armia was brought in by Holland also because of his playoff experience. With 49 career playoff games, he could use that experience during the 2026 playoffs, something the Kings could find immensely useful. He has also been a key factor come playoff time, scoring 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points during those 49 games. His defense could play a huge role in whether the Kings get past the first round, something they have not done recently. Armia, along with Corey Perry, Cody Ceci, Brian Dumoulin, and Anton Forsberg, were part of the group added in the offseason to get this team a bit edgier and more experienced in the playoffs. While they have all been solid early in the season, it has been Armia’s most noticeable play. He may not be a big name but he plays a big role on this team and we are seeing early on what he is capable of. He has already proved his worth but his time to shine will be playoff time when the Kings can use all of the help they can get.
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