Canadiens sign Joel Armia to two-year deal worth $5.2 million

Finnish forward became a restricted free agent on July 1 after posting 13-10-23 totals in 57 games last season with the Habs.

Canadiens forward Joel Armia waits for the puck to drop during NHL pre-season game against the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Sept. 19, 2018.

The Canadiens have signed forward Joel Armia to a two-year deal worth US$5.2 million, avoiding salary arbitration.

Armia, 26, became a restricted free agent on July 1 after posting 13-10-23 totals in 57 games last season with the Canadiens. His 13 goals were a career high.

The Canadiens acquired Armia from the Winnipeg Jets last summer — along with goalie Steve Mason and a seventh-round pick at this year’s NHL Draft (defenceman Kieran Ruscheinski) — in exchange for defenceman Simon Bourque and a fourth-round pick at next year’s draft.

The Buffalo Sabres selected Armia in the first round (16th overall) at the 2011 NHL Draft. In 237 career regular-season games, the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder from Finland has 39-42-81 totals.

After signing Armia, the Canadiens now have 24 players under contract with $6.544 million left in salary-cap space for next season, according to CapFriendly.com . Restricted free-agent forwards Artturi Lehkonen and Charles Hudon remain unsigned and have both opted for salary arbitration.

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