Where’s Charlie? We should be asking ourselves, where’s Joel?

Joel Armia began the AHL season with the Laval Rocket.

The Canadiens wanted to send him a clear message: he needs to give more effort to earn a regular spot in Martin St-Louis’ line-up.

It’s all part of the Montreal organization’s new culture.

The Finn was recalled after collecting five points (including four goals) in four games in Laval. And since then…

The player has been invisible on the ice. You know the game “Where’s Charlie? Right now, it’s “Where’s Joel?

Armia has been blanked in his last five games, and right now he really looks like a passenger in the Montreal lineup.

The player is back to his bad habits.

He drags his feet on the ice, he doesn’t want to get involved and he avoids getting into a situation where he can look bad.

Joel Armia has some great offensive qualities in his toolbox, but he simply doesn’t use them.

At the size and with the hands he has, you’d expect him to go around defenders protecting his puck like it was child’s play. And with the wrist shot he’s got, we should see him shooting often at the net to create scoring chances.

Armia has eight shots in six games since his recall. That’s not nearly enough.

It’s been exactly 20 days since the Canadiens recalled him (October 21). Why am I talking about this?

Because the Habs have the option of sending him back to the AHL if less than 30 days have passed or if he hasn’t played 10 games since his recall.

That said… It’s almost impossible to believe that a team would decide to claim him in the waivers because of his lucrative contract and his recent setbacks on the ice.

We all thought after seeing him score against the Jets in his first NHL game this season that he’d changed and had a new attitude.

It’s funny how quickly things can change. Isn’t it?

Breaking news

– Literally. I’ve been mumbling the song all day.

POV: All of us today creds to @JayFrappier pic.twitter.com/ldW8VXS3wR

– HFTV (@HFTVSports) November 11, 2023

– Georges Laraque is incredible.

@GeorgesLaraque is a man of his word! #griot#bbc@stephgonzz pic.twitter.com/2K5F7yPkH6

– BPM Sports (@BPMSportsRadio) November 11, 2023

– It moves.

2 Kings scouts on the list for this Flames/Leafs game, one of whom is their North American goalie scout

– David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) November 11, 2023

– Ah well.