Free Agent Forward Sends Clear Message to Hughes About His Intentions to Sign With the Canadiens

As we know, some of them won't be returning for the 2025-26 season, such as David Savard, who announced his retirement just before the series against the Washington Capitals.

Other than Savy, Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia will become unrestricted free agents on July 1, and at the moment, it's unclear what management's plans are for the two forwards.

However, if it were up to Armia, he would definitely be back in Montreal for 2025-26.

Of course, the final decision isn't up to him, but this shows just how attached the Finnish forward is to the Canadiens organization, where he's been playing for seven years.

He just had an excellent season, collecting 29 points in 81 games and forming one of the most consistent lines for the Habs this season alongside Jake Evans and Emil Heineman.

Armia also added two assists in five playoff games but was hampered by a hand injury over the past few weeks, which significantly affected his performance.

Even though he wants to stay with the Canadiens, the former first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2011 will have to work with his agent to see if he can land a more lucrative contract elsewhere before considering a return to Montreal.

He earned a salary of $3.4 million over the past three seasons, and there are legitimate questions about whether he'll be able to benefit from the generosity of another general manager, like Marc Bergevin in the summer of 2021.

The former Canadiens GM had given Armia a new three-year deal worth $13.6 million.