A hometown Stanley Cup winner to sign with the Habs?
Since the opening of the free agent market on July 1st, Kent Hughes has been quiet but might be making an interesting acquisition for the team's top-9.
The general manager of the Canadiens could add a role player who could greatly help the Habs build a winning culture in Sammy Blais.
Although he tried to sign a star player like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, or Patrick Kane, Kent Hughes has only signed a supporting player in Alex Barré-Boulet so far. Even though Barré-Boulet has a lot of talent, it would be hard to see him in a top-6 role after shuttling between Syracuse and Tampa Bay in recent years. It must be noted that the Lightning had the luxury of a Stanley Cup-winning team in 2020 and 2021.
The young man from Montmagny, Sammy Blais, has been clearly linked to the Canadiens in recent days. As an unrestricted free agent, he could find himself in a role on the third or even fourth line to provide momentum. His skating speed, toughness, and playoff experience could be beneficial in the Habs' locker room.
Sammy Blais Signed by Kent Hughes and the Canadiens as a Free Agent?
Tanner Pearson and Colin White have been released. There will be competition on the third and fourth lines in 2024-2025. The presence of Sammy Blais will only add to the internal competition. It's healthy and especially important for building a winning culture! Nothing is guaranteed!
Identified as an important cog in the "bottom-6," Sammy Blais was a role player in the St. Louis Blues' 2019 championship run.
Hampered by injuries in recent years, he could be an ideal (and very affordable) pick-up for the Montreal Canadiens in the free agent market. He won't be expensive, but he could be a valuable asset for Martin St-Louis. He loves to go to battle every night, as some like to say in hockey jargon.
The hometown player is free agent.
At 28 years old, Sammy Blais has an imposing frame at 6 feet 2 inches and 206 pounds. He likes to make his presence felt with solid hits and excels defensively. After all, he grew up alongside Craig Berube. He would quickly become a fan favorite in Montreal.
He is also capable of scoring his share of points offensively. In 2022-2023, he recorded 20 points in 31 games with the St. Louis Blues.
In his NHL career, he has 27 goals and 44 assists (71 points) in 257 games, which is not bad for a third or fourth-line offensive player.
He is also a Stanley Cup champion and played significantly during his team's playoff run in 2019. He can play big minutes, kill penalties, and most importantly, change the momentum of a game with solid checks.
With a salary of less than 1.5 million dollars per year, would you like the Montreal Canadiens to sign Sammy Blais for the 3rd or 4th line?
Especially knowing that Rafael Harvey-Pinard has unfortunately just been injured, this could be a solid depth acquisition.
Credit: Rumeursdetransaction
Un Québécois intéressant est disponible pour le Canadien de Montréal
| POLL | ||
According to you, what is the money value of Sammy Blais' next contract? | ||
| Under 1 M$ per year | 53 | 28.6 % |
| 1 to 1,5 M$ per year | 91 | 49.2 % |
| 1,5 to 2,5 M$ per year | 37 | 20 % |
| Over than 2,5 M$ per year | 4 | 2.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
