The Montreal Canadiens have successfully reclaimed forward Samuel Blais off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team announced on Thursday, November 27, 2025. The 29-year-old Quebec native will report directly to the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, rather than joining the NHL roster immediately.
Blais's NHL Journey Comes Full Circle
This move marks a significant turnaround in Blais's recent career trajectory. The Canadiens initially signed the Montmagny native to a one-year, $775,000 contract as a free agent on July 1. However, after being cut during training camp, the Toronto Maple Leafs claimed him on waivers on October 6 before Montreal could assign him to Laval.
During his brief stint with the Maple Leafs, Blais appeared in eight games, recording four points (one goal and three assists) while maintaining a minus-2 rating. His return to the Canadiens organization provides valuable depth during a challenging period for the team.
Injury Crisis Forces Roster Reshuffle
The Canadiens have been grappling with significant injury problems that have depleted their forward lineup. Key players Alex Newhook (fractured ankle), Kirby Dach (fractured foot), and Patrik Laine (core muscle injury) are all sidelined with long-term injuries.
This injury crisis forced Montreal to call up prospects Joshua Roy, Jared Davidson, and Florian Xhekaj from the Laval Rocket. The team further addressed their depth issues by signing free-agent forward Alexandre Texier to a one-year, $1 million contract after his release from the St. Louis Blues.
The youth movement has been particularly evident in recent games. During Wednesday night's 4-3 comeback victory over the Utah Mammoth, the Canadiens dressed six rookies in their lineup, including forwards Davidson, Xhekaj, Oliver Kapanen, and Ivan Demidov, along with defenceman Adam Engstrom and goalie Jakub Dobes.
Experience Gap Becomes Apparent
The team's reliance on inexperienced players has highlighted the value of veteran presence. During the Mammoth game, Jared Davidson saw limited ice time of just 5:23 minutes, while Florian Xhekaj logged 8:51 minutes. Defenceman Adam Engstrom, making his NHL debut, played 10:42 minutes.
Both Blais and the newly signed Texier bring substantial NHL experience to the organization. Blais has played 265 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs, accumulating 74 points (28 goals and 46 assists). Texier boasts 240 NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues, recording 91 points (40 goals and 51 assists).
The Canadiens continue their road trip with games against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday and the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, hoping their renewed organizational depth will help maintain competitive performance despite ongoing injury challenges.
