Habs News | Montreal Canadiens Sign Restricted Free Agent Forwards Joel Armia, Artturi Lehkonen to Two-year Contracts Avoiding Arbitration

MONTREAL, QC. — On Thursday, Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Armia each avoided arbitration by coming to terms on two-year contracts.

Armia signed to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.6 million. Lehkonen’s deal is also for two years carrying an average annual value of 2.4 million dollars.

Joel Armia had a career year, his first year in Montreal, scoring 13 goals while adding 10 assists for a total of 23 points. The Pori, Finland native has recorded 39 goals and 81 points in 237 games in his career with the Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, and the Canadiens.

Armia was drafted in the first round (16th overall) by the Buffalo Sabres at 2011 NHL Entry draft.

Artturi Lehkonen also had a career year playing all 82 games while scoring 11 goals, 20 assists for 31 points including four game winning goals.

The 24-year-old is a native of Piikkio, Finland. In 221 NHL games, Lehkonen has scored 41 goals and 80 points.

He was drafted in the second round (55th overall) at the 2013 NHL Entry draft.