The Montreal Canadiens have made some significant moves this off-season. They most notably acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders to bolster their blueline. They also acquired a promising young forward on the rise in Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues, who has the potential to be a key part of their offense.
However, the Canadiens also made a smaller move that has the potential to benefit them. On July 1, the Canadiens signed forward Sammy Blais to a one-year, one-way contract for the 2025-26 campaign. Next season, the 6-foot-2 forward will carry a $775,000 cap hit, so there is no risk in this depth move for Montreal.
Blais certainly has earned this NHL deal with Montreal, as he had an excellent 2024-25 season while on an AHL contract with the Abbotsford Canucks. In 51 regular-season games, he posted 14 goals, 40 points, and a plus-8 rating. He also stepped up big time for Abbotsford during their Calder Cup championship run, recording six goals, 13 assists, and 19 points in 23 games.
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After an AHL season like this, Blais should certainly receive real consideration for a spot on the Canadiens' NHL roster. He has shown throughout his NHL career that he can be an impactful bottom-six forward, as he plays a heavy game and is solid defensively. Thus, the possibility of him being on the Canadiens' fourth line or as an extra forward should not be ruled out.
Another appealing factor about Blais is that he has a good amount of playoff experience. Besides winning the Calder Cup with Abbotsford last season, he was also a solid depth player for the St. Louis Blues when they won the Stanley Cup in 2019. NHL teams can never have enough Stanley Cup winners, and Blais gives the Canadiens just that.
At worst, Blais should be a key forward for the Laval Rocket if he does not make the Canadiens' roster out of training camp. Yet, he certainly could earn a spot on the Canadiens' roster if he stands out during training camp and proves that he deserves another chance in the NHL.
In 257 career NHL games over seven seasons, Blais has recorded 27 goals, 44 assists, 71 points, and 835 hits. It will be interesting to see how much he builds on these career stats as a member of the Canadiens from here.
Canadiens Facing Big Decision With Mike Matheson Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson is entering the final season of his contract in 2025-26. With this, he has the potential to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1 of next year.
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