Joel Armia
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Birthday:
1993-05-31 |
Position:
RW |
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Eligible for draft:
2011 |
Shoots:
Right |
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Drafted:
2011 |
Height:
6-3 |
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Acquired:
1st round (16th overall), 2011 |
Weight:
187 lbs. |
Prospect Talent Score
Probability of Success
- B
History
2008-09: joel Armia spent most of the season with Assat's Under-16 Junior “C” team. In 27 games, he scored 36 goals and added 19 assists for 55 points along with 92 penalty minutes. In 3 playoff games for that team, Armia scored 3 goals and added 1 assist for 4 points to go along with 22 penalty minutes. Armia also played for Assat's Under-18 Junior “B” team, scoring 3 goals and adding 1 assist in 6 games. In 10 international games for Finland's Under-16 squad, Armia scored 1 goal and added 2 assists for 3 points.
2009-10: Played most of the season with Assat's Under-20 Junior “A” team. In 27 games for that team, Armia scored 15 goals and added 6 assists for 21 points. In 5 playoff games for that team, Armia scored 1 goal and added 1 assist for 2 points. Armia also played for Assat's Under-18 Junior “B” team, scoring 7 goals and 9 assists for 16 points in 9 games. He also tacked on 31 penalty minutes in those games. In 6 playoff games for that squad, Armia scored 6 goals and added 3 assists for 9 points. Armia played for Finland at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challege, scoring 5 goals and chipping in 3 assists for 8 points in 5 games. His performance earned him a berth on that tournament's All-Star Team. Armia also played in international tournaments with Finland's Under-18 squad, scoring 2 goals and adding 1 assist for 3 points in 5 games.
2010-11: Armia spent most of the season with Assat's top team, playing in 48 games for that club. He scored 18 goals and added 11 assists for 29 points. In 5 playoff games, Armia scored 2 goals for Assat. Armia played for Finland at the 2011 Under-20 World Junior Championship, picking up 1 assist in 6 games. He also played for Finalnd's entry at the 2011 Under-18 World Junior Championship, where he scored 4 goals and added 9 assists for 13 points in 6 games.
2011-12: Armia was Assat Pori's third-leading scorer as an 18-year-old and represented Finland in the 2012 U20 World Junior Championship. He scored 18 goals with 20 assists and was plus-12 with 64 penalty minutes in 54 SM-Liiga games for Assat. Armia appeared in just three playoff games, suffering a season-ending knee injury, and was minus-one with 2 assists. Playing on Finland's second line along with Joonas Donskoi and Miikko Salomaki (NSH) at the WJC, he had 5 goals with 2 assists and was plus-two with 16 penalty minutes in seven games. Finland finished fourth in the tournament; falling to eventual champion Sweden in a shootout in the semifinals. Armia was the only Finnish player to score in the shootout.
Talent Analysis
A junior star already in his native Finland, Armia is Buffalo’s most dangerous goal-scorer since Thomas Vanek, though their approaches are quite different. Armia lacks high-end footspeed, but puts his 6’3" frame to good use, driving to the net and using his stickhandling ability to navigate through traffic.
Future
Armia is under contract with Assat Pori for one more year where he is expected to play a major offensive role under coach Karri Kivi. Once the contract expires, Armia will be free to join the Sabres.
