Buffalo Sabres 2011 NHL Entry Draft pick impresses management at WJC –NHL News Update
Buffalo Sabres top draft pick of the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft, Joel Armia, had the opportunity to impress the whole Buffalo management on Tuesday at Lake Placid, New York, as the World Junior Championship was underway, and amaze is exactly
what he did.
Playing on the USA Rink at the Olympic Centre, Joel Armia was in front of not only Buffalo Sabres general manager, Darcy Regier, and head coach, Lindy Ruff, along with nearly the entire franchise scouting staff, but club owner Terry Pegula was also present.
Obviously it was a huge amount of pressure for the 18-year-old, but he tried his best to cope with it.
"I didn't think about that, that they were here", Armia said. "I don't know what happened".
Armia, a native of Pori, Finland, is just one name on a long list of players who are of Finnish origin in this year’s draft. The 16th overall pick in round-one, will certainly have to prove his capability to not only his team, but also the world,
that he deserved to be picked.
Standing at 6-foot-3, 192 pounds, seeing a strong attacking forward in Armia is not hard, but it was his performance during the match which also impressed the management.
"I thought at times he was good", added general manager, Regier. "I like his skating ability, his skill. Obviously it was a tough night, but we like his total package and his ability to score".
Even though the management thought he outplayed expectations, Armia was of the view that he did not have a good time at all and could have done much better than his one assist performance on Finland’s only goal during the match.
"I think I played the worst game I've ever played", said a complex minded Armia after the match.
According to Finland's coach, Raimo Helminen, who has known him for quite a while now, Armia has actually improved with time.
"I think he has gone little bit further already", Helminen said. "He's better than last year, for sure. It looks like his skating is a little bit better, and he's a little bit stronger".
Without a doubt, this match hardly meant anything negative for the young Finnish forward looking that he still has a long way to go and establish himself as a player in the American major league.
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