Team Finland released its roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off this afternoon and two Montreal Canadiens players made the cut.
The 4 Nations Face-Off may just kick off in February but the deadline for the four countries taking part in the competition was Monday, and this afternoon Finland and Sweden unveiled their complete roster. Two Montreal Canadiens found their way on Finland's roster.
Joel Armia is no stranger to international play and even though he's not a star player, he can certainly be a useful role player. Picked 16th overall at the 2016 draft by the Buffalo Sabres, the right winger was sent to the Winnipeg Jets after playing just one NHL games with the Sabres in the trade that netted the Buffalo outfit Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian.
After three seasons in the Jets' organization, he was traded to the Canadiens as a sweetener when Montreal accepted to take Steve Mason's contract off the Jets' hands. Since then, he has spent seven seasons with the Habs, playing 350 games and picking up 130 points in the process.
Armia's true value for the Canadiens, and more likely for Finland however rests in his ability to kill penalty. When he's on, the 6-foot-3 and 216 pounds skater can be very effective at keeping the puck away from a power play and running the clock.
He's played in the World Championships for Finland twice, after the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. In 2022, he claimed the gold medal, scoring eight points in 10 games. The following year, Finland claimed silver against the USA and Armia put up three points in eight games.
As for Patrik Laine, it's been a long time since he played for his country. Drafted second overall in 2016 by the Jets (behind Auston Matthews), the right winger has been in the NHL for nine seasons across which he featured in 481 games and picking up 389 points along the way.
On the international stage, he won two medals representing Finland at the World Junior Championships, silver in 2015 (11 points in seven games) and gold in 2016 (13 points in seven games). That same year, he also took part in the senior tournament winning silver (12 points in 10 games) and being named tournament MVP.
While he will no doubt be over the moon with the opportunity to play for his country, he's had quite a few bouts with the injury ninja over the last few years and one has to wonder if it's wise for him to do so. I believe Geoff Molson certainly is wondering.
At least, he came back from his injury sooner than expected so by the time the tournament starts in mid-February he will have caught up with the other players form wise, so it won't be like he lands in a best-on-best situation with no period of adaptation.
While he said himself he was rusty last night, his talent was still in full display during the game and it's easy to see why Finland couldn't pass up on him.
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