FINNISH FLASH on radar

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This article was published 05/10/2016 (3283 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Joel Armia is getting rave reviews from his new linemates for the work he’s putting in during rehearsals prior to the 2016-17 NHL season.

His coach, though, has appreciated the big Finnish winger’s performance from the moment Armia made his Winnipeg Jets debut last season.

There’s a tidiness to his game — call it defensive accountability — and Paul Maurice alluded to it earlier in training camp.

The 6-3, 210-pound first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres prides himself on playing a 200-foot game — the way he was trained to play in the small community of Pori, Finland.

“We’re coached that way,” the soft-spoken 23-year-old said Wednesday, following a high-tempo, 90-minute practice at the MTS Iceplex.

His line of centre Bryan Little and winger Patrik Laine donned white jerseys and were flying.

“To be successful in this league or anywhere, you have to play well in all zones on the ice,” said Armia.

“I think since I’ve been here I’ve had more of a defensive role and I’ve gotten better at that. I think that’s how you make it to the NHL and stay in this league.”

Armia was acquired in the February 2015 blockbuster trade that sent talented but enigmatic winger Evander Kane and defenceman Zach Bogosian to the Sabres for blue-liner Tyler Myers, forward Drew Stafford and blue-chip prospect Brendan Lemieux.

At the time, Armia was playing with the Sabres’ AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, and the Jets sent him to their farm squad in St. John’s, Nfld., to finish out the season.

After starting the 2015-16 season with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL, Armia was promoted to the Jets and played 43 games, finishing with four goals and six assists. Two tallies came on the same night in February in Dallas, including a beauty when he turned Stars defenceman Johnny Oduya inside out before beating goalie Kari Lehtonen.

Armia said he added muscle this off-season and worked hard to improve his skating speed — all in an effort to flash some of that offensive upside on a more consistent basis.

“I try to get better every year. I want to start making a difference in the offensive zone,” he said. “The biggest thing for me is my confidence level.

“I’m feeling really good with this team. The trade was really good for me. I really like this place and all my teammates. It’s a great organization. There’s a lot of excitement here.”

Little, who was accustomed to playing alongside Blake Wheeler and the now-departed Andrew Ladd for the better part of five seasons in Winnipeg, is enjoying skating with the talented Finns.

He said Armia’s game has improved by leaps and bounds.

“I don’t think he’s going to fly under the radar much longer. He’s a super-skilled player, big body, strong on the puck,” Little said. “He had a couple of highlight-reel goals last year. He’s got a ton of skill and he’s easy to play with.”

The three played together in Calgary last weekend, but didn’t hit the scoresheet in the Jets’ 4-0 victory over the Flames.

They’ll likely hook up again tonight against the Oilers in downtown Edmonton as the Jets make their first visit to the brand-new, $600-million Rogers Place.

Maurice said he’s intrigued by the trio’s potential.

“I like the idea of (the line),” the Jets head coach said.

“Bryan’s a really skilled puck-mover, and if you go back to the start of last year I would have described him as our best defensive centre. So, we put a centre with Patrik and Joel that knows his way around his own end and can get us out of trouble.

“Joel seems to be a bit of a hybrid. We can put him in a checking role. His stick is so good and he’s very smart. But we’ve also seen an awful lot of offensive skill there, so we like that balance.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca          Twitter: @WFPJasonBell