When the Leafs signed former Pittsburgh Penguin and Atlanta Thrasher Colby Armstrong to a 3-year, $9 million on July 1st, there was mixed reviews from fans about the signing. Armstrong would be a key player on any team because he has a unique ability to agitate the opposition and also score clutch goals. However, his offensive potential is limited and will never be considered a legitimate top six forward.Most people would label Armstrong has a solid third line right winger who can fill in on the top two lines if needed, and would also play on both special teams. The substantial price tag aside, Armstrong is a useful player who has played alongside world class players like Sidney Crosby and Ilya Kovalchuk. His past experience playing with immensely talented players bodes well for his chances of earning ice time with Phil Kessel this season.
The 6-foot-2, 195 pound forward has posted double digits in goals in all 5 of his NHL seasons. He also notched 22 goals and 40 points during the 2008-09 season while playing for the Atlanta Thrashers. Barring injury, Armstrong can be expected to come close to scoring 40 points, although could fall short if the Leafs have another dreary season. The former first round pick in 2001 entered training camp at only 27 years old, so he may have some untapped potential.
The former first round pick’s impact will be felt most in a defensive role, where he is being counted on to significantly improve the Leafs penalty kill that ranked 30th with a 68% success rate last year. Along with Fredrik Sjostrom and Christian Hanson/John Mitchell, Armstrong rounds out a very formidable third line.
The off season acquisitions of Kris Versteeg and Clarke MacArthur have overshadowed the Armstrong signing, but can be seen as a positive for Colby to fly somewhat under the radar. Even from his days in junior and the American Hockey League until his time in Pittsburgh with Sidney Crosby, Colby Armstrong has always flown under the radar and doesn’t want that to change one bit during his time in Toronto. He embraces his role and brings a skill set that is a vital component needed to build a championship team.
2009-10 Statistics
79 games, 15 goals, 14 assists, 29 points, 61 penalty minutes
2010-11 Prediction
81 games, 16 goals, 18 assists, 34 points, 64 penalty minutes
3 Burning Questions
1 – Do you think Colby Armstrong is capable of playing a top six role or is he better suited as a third line grinder?
2 – How many points do you expect Armstrong to score this season?
3 – Is Armstrong worth the steep $3 million salary that the Leafs are paying him?
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