Article content

What do right-winger Joel Armia and defenceman Simon Després have in common?

Well, they both recently joined the Canadiens and they are both former first-round NHL draft picks.

The Canadiens acquired Armia last month in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets and on Friday signed the restricted free agent to a one-year contract worth US$1.85 million. On Thursday, the Canadiens announced they have invited Després to training camp on a professional tryout.

The Canadiens now have nine former first-round draft picks on their NHL roster list, three more on their non-roster list, plus Desprès.