Canadiens re-claim Sammy Blais off waivers from Maple Leafs

The Montreal Canadiens have re-claimed forward Sammy Blais off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs, The Athletic‘s Chris Johnston (among others) reported Thursday afternoon.

Blais, 29, collected one goal and three points in eight games with the Maple Leafs to start the 2025-26 regular season. The Maple Leafs initially claimed Blais off waivers from the Canadiens on October 6.

The Canadiens signed Blais to a one-year, $775,000 contract as an unrestricted free agent on July 1. According to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie, the Canadiens were the only team to put in a claim for Blais on Thursday, meaning they can now assign him directly to the AHL’s Laval Rocket if they so choose.

The St. Louis Blues originally selected Blais in the sixth round (No. 176 overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft. The Montmagny, Quebec product turned pro with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves in the 2016-17 season and made his NHL debut with the Blues the following year.

Blais skated in 32 games with the Blues during the 2018-19 regular season and took part in 15 more during the playoffs, recording three points to help the club capture its first-ever Stanley Cup championship.

After two more seasons with the Blues, Blais’ tenure with the organization ended in the summer of 2021, as he was sent to the New York Rangers along with a 2022 second-round pick in exchange for Pavel Buchnevich. But Blais struggled to find any success on Broadway, being held goalless in 54 games over parts of two seasons, and was traded back to the Blues late in the 2022-23 campaign as part of the deal that sent Vladimir Tarasenko to the Rangers.

Blais left the Blues organization a second time in the 2024 off-season to sign with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent; however, he spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, helping them win the Calder Cup as AHL champions. He returned to the NHL to start the 2025-26 campaign after being claimed off waivers by the Maple Leafs.

Through 265 career NHL games over parts of eight seasons with the Blues, Rangers, and Maple Leafs, Blais has collected 28 goals and 74 points. The 6’2″ winger has added three goals and eight points in 27 career playoff contests.