Kings’ Joel Armia activated off IR, returns to lineup against Sabres
Some veteran reinforcements are returning to Hollywood.
The Los Angeles Kings announced that the team has activated forward Joel Armia from injured reserve. The 32-year-old is expected to be in the lineup on Saturday when the Kings take on the Buffalo Sabres.
The @LAKings have activated forward Joel Armia from injured reserve (IR).
It will be Armia’s first game in almost two months. He suffered an upper-body injury against the Edmonton Oilers back on Feb. 26 and hasn’t been in the lineup since, as he was placed on IR in early March.
Armia has missed the team’s last 10 games. Over that span, Los Angeles has managed to stay afloat in the chaotic Wild Card race in the Western Conference, going 5-3-2 after losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in a shootout on Thursday night.
The Pori, Finland, native has already missed an extended period due to injury. In January, another upper-body injury led to Armia missing two weeks of action. In the 53 games Armia has played thus far, he has potted 10 goals and recorded 10 assists for 20 points, ranking ninth on the team in scoring. The two-way winger has a plus/minus of +2 while averaging 14:20 of ice time.
Prior to the injury, Armia represented his country on the world stage, playing for Suomi at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He scored three goals and five assists for eight points, leading the team in scoring while finishing tied for fourth among all skaters in points. His efforts helped the Finns win the bronze medal.
Armia’s return could provide a bump for a Kings team that’s simply hoping to qualify for the postseason once again. Heading into Saturday’s action, Los Angeles (28-24-16) sits fourth in the Pacific Division, hanging onto the second Wild Card spot.