LOS ANGELES – Joel Armia didn’t like the view from the proverbial doghouse, and, although his stint was brief, he’s been taking all the necessary steps the last five weeks to avoid another frustrating stay.
The Winnipeg Jets right winger was relegated to the press box for a pair of games early in the season, not because of a specific injury but because of his sub-par play.
He wasn't the lone struggler in lopsided losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames, but his performance as a bottom-six forward was, in a word, uninspired. Head coach Paul Maurice chalks that up now to the fact Armia was hobbled early in training camp by a nagging groin injury and, when the season began, simply wasn’t in 100 per cent game shape.