What if a quiet guy off the ice turned out to be the unsung hero saving the day on it? That's Joel Armia for the LA Kings right now—and it's making fans rethink the whole team dynamic.
Joel Armia isn't the type to steal the spotlight away from the rink. In fact, he's known for keeping things low-key when the skates come off. But once those blades hit the ice, "quietly effective" might just be the perfect way to describe him.
As the Kings kick off this season, Armia's journey has been one of the most inspiring narratives. If we take a look at how players have performed over the first 30 games versus what scouts and analysts predicted before the puck dropped, Armia stands out as one of the biggest overachievers. Honestly, you could argue he's at the very top of that list as we hit the midpoint of the campaign—a testament to his hard work and adaptability.
“We've been chatting about him since the very beginning of training camp, and everyone's been blown away by his impact,” Kings assistant general manager Jim Hiller shared about Armia. “Last night marked his personal best in ice time this year, and he's even climbed up to the first power-play unit. He earned every single minute of that. He didn't start with those opportunities; he began on the fourth line, logging around 11 or 12 minutes a game. But now, he's right where he deserves to be through sheer effort.”
But here's where it gets controversial: Is Armia just a depth player, or could he be the hidden key to unlocking the Kings' full potential?
Armia entered the season as a solid upgrade for the fourth line, bringing his reputation as a top-notch penalty killer from his Montreal days. The idea was to ease the burden on the star players during tough shorthanded situations, allowing the Kings to roll four strong lines deeper into games with a reliable presence.
Yet, his influence has stretched far beyond that initial role. Don't get it wrong—he's absolutely nailed the defensive and shorthanded promises. On the defensive front, he's delivered exactly as hyped.
To clarify for those new to hockey stats, takeaways are those moments when a player strips the puck from an opponent, setting up scoring chances or disrupting plays. Armia tops the Kings with an impressive 1.93 takeaways per 60 minutes, far ahead of anyone else on the team. Among the 371 NHL skaters who've played at least 400 minutes so far, he sits seventh in the entire league for that stat. In short, his defensive prowess has been rock-solid from day one, just as advertised.
On the penalty kill (that's when your team is down a player due to a penalty, and you need to defend without them), Armia also shines. He leads the NHL with three shorthanded goals this season—goals scored while your team is shorthanded, which is incredibly rare and boosts morale. With a smart assist on Alex Laferriere's tally against Seattle, Armia tied for the league lead in shorthanded points with four, matching New York Islander Jean-Gabriel Pageau. In those tough spots, he's a net positive, +3 overall. He's been present for all four of the Kings' shorthanded goals this year and only one against. That's elite-level play.
In fact, over about 43 minutes of shorthanded ice time, Armia's team has allowed just 1.38 goals per 60 minutes while he's on the ice—the sixth-best mark among forwards with at least 25 minutes in penalty-killing duties. The Kings knew they were getting a specialist when they inked him to a two-year deal in the summer, and he's proving it every shift.
“It feels like in every single game, he's either getting an opportunity or creating one on the penalty kill, and that really energizes our squad,” defenseman Joel Edmundson noted. “Scoring a shorthanded goal is a game-changer. He's been a fantastic pickup so far; the guys in the locker room adore him. He's been grinding in this league for roughly a decade, and he just keeps delivering.”
And check out this fun tweet from the Kings' official account: "LAFFY! SHORTY!" with a pic of that shorthanded assist—pure hockey joy.
Armia's contributions since joining the Kings have clearly justified an expanded role beyond what was originally planned.
As Hiller pointed out, Armia clocked nearly 19 minutes against Seattle, his season high. Meanwhile, some of the Kings' other forwards aren't hitting their offensive marks as expected, but Armia's on pace for 19 goals and 38 points—both potential career highs in the NHL—even though he's only ninth among Kings forwards in 5-on-5 ice time (that's even-strength play without special teams), averaging just under 12 minutes per game. He's got a strong build and subtle skills that catch opponents and teammates off guard, making him stand out in battles.
“I faced him a bunch when he was with Montreal; he's a big presence, makes smart puck moves, and has a solid shot,” goaltender Anton Forsberg remarked. “He's been a real asset to this roster.”
Where Armia's truly blown expectations out of the water is in his scoring ability.
Interestingly, even back in training camp, veteran players who had shared the ice with him knew the talent was there, much like Forsberg mentioned.
Edmundson described Armia as someone who can "dominate games offensively" at times. Forward Phillip Danault added that "the puck just naturally finds him," praising his knack for positioning, particularly near the net. Danault noted you'd see "some wicked moves out of nowhere."
Those insights came from interviews on September 18 and 19. Now, with more games under his belt, we're witnessing exactly what they predicted.
Armia's offensive play has been a breath of fresh air for a Kings team desperately chasing more scoring chances and goals.
With his key assist against the Kraken, Armia now ranks third on the team in primary assists per 60 minutes (primary assists are the first pass leading to a goal), behind only Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield. He's fifth in goals per 60 minutes across all situations. When Hiller says Armia's earned his ice time, the stats strongly support that claim.
Lately, his even-strength minutes have been with Kevin Fiala and Quinton Byfield.
Fiala is arguably the Kings' most explosive offensive talent, especially on his best nights, and Byfield is the speed demon among the forwards. Both can create plays, though their output hasn't quite matched last season's second half yet. This trio needs a third piece who can match their pace and add complementary strengths. Armia's shown he's that player, and Fiala had glowing things to say about him.
“He's excellent—a highly skilled forward,” Fiala praised. “He dominates puck battles, protects the puck well, and creates opportunities. He's stellar on the penalty kill and all around the ice, particularly in recent weeks. He's chipped in with some goals, and it's been impressive. I'm really proud of him. He meshes perfectly with our group, and I'm thrilled to have him here.”
Overall, Armia's straightforward style pairs nicely with Fiala, especially. As the Kings aim to boost their scoring firepower, I could see line combinations shifting, but for now, he's in a sweet spot.
In the latest game, that mixing included Armia on the top power-play unit for the first time. He didn't directly contribute to the goal, which Fiala buried on a rush, but Armia made a difference in the offensive zone, securing pucks and delivering them to dangerous areas from the goal line. I'd love to see Andrei Kuzmenko regain his form and reclaim that role. Still, for a power play that's been struggling, Armia's aggressive, diligent approach brings a fresh energy. It worked well on its debut.
And this is the part most people miss: Armia's versatility could make him indispensable, but does that mean the Kings are relying too much on a 'utility' player instead of developing stars?
Where Armia fits long-term in the lineup is still evolving.
Hiller has called him a "Swiss Army knife," grouping him with Alex Laferriere and Trevor Moore as flexible assets who can adapt to various roles and partners, always finding a way to help. While he hasn't been juggled as frequently as Laferriere, Armia has played over 50 minutes of 5-on-5 time with seven different forwards. So, when the coaching staff needs to rearrange the puzzle, Armia's one of the go-tos who can slot in seamlessly—whether that's on the top line or the bottom one. He's a supportive teammate who consistently adds value.
And add value he has. For a team still searching for steady offensive rhythm, Armia's emerged as an unexpected contributor. If he sustains this, he'll solidify as one of the NHL's top free-agent bargains from the off-season.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images
So, fans, what's your take? Is Joel Armia the Kings' secret weapon, or is his rise just a temporary spark? Do you think he's being underpaid for his impact, or should he stick to a supporting role? Share your thoughts in the comments—let's debate!
