Most free agents who entered the summer without a contract have already signed new contracts, so the Toronto Maple Leafs will have to dig deep if they want to recruit a guy with some talent.
In a July 21 post looking at players still available, NHL analyst Mike Augello of Hockey Buzz mentioned a forward who previously played under Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube as a potential target Toronto may consider signing.
“Sammy Blais played for Berube with the Blues on the 2019 Cup winner as a fourth-line role player,” according to Augello. “Only 28, the 6’2″, 206-pound winger is all sandpaper and not much skill.”
While that isn’t the most exciting description, Blais might provide some grit to the Leafs’ forward corps as a depth guy who can play on the third or fourth line depending on the opposition.
Blais is also still young and should have many years ahead of him, despite coming in at a low price this late in the offseason.
The winger spent a season and a half with the New York Rangers (July 2021–February 2023) but has always played for the St. Louis Blues.
Augello cites the Maple Leafs’ history of signing players late in the offseason as a possible indicator of Blais signing in August or September via tryout.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs just before the start of training camp last September chose to extend a professional tryout to former San Jose Shark Noah Gregor, which resulted in the speedy forward earning a roster spot,” according to Augello. “As the calendar flips to August and camps are weeks away, unsigned free agents may be willing to roll the dice and take a chance on latching onto a club via the tryout route.”
Maple Leafs Link to St. Louis Blues and Sammy. Blais was mentioned briefly by Augello as a prospective free agent target for the Maple Leafs. However, other analysts had already made similar predictions.
For example, Bennett Jull of The Leafs Nation named Blais as a “honourable mention” among a few “cheaper alternatives for Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs” deep into free agency.
“There are athletes that sign lower-cost contracts and outperform expectations. In a salary cap league where every dollar counts, getting these signings right is critical,” Jull wrote on July 1, before highlighting Blais as a skater who “may prove to be a fantastic value signing.”
On July 16, fellow analyst Jon Steitzer wrote for the same outlet, analyzing Berube’s line usage with the Blues during the 2023-24 season.
Blais spent the majority of his tenure as a bottom-six forward on the Blues’ third line with Jakub Vrana and Kevin Hayes.
“Berube wanted a 3rd line of experienced players together and up until now in the roster you can see that Berube has leaned on experience,” Steitzer pointed out. “Based on their present alternatives, Kampf is likely to get the greatest shot as the Leafs’ third-line centre. Connor Dewar, Bobby McMann, or Matthew Knies would be ideal candidates for the Blais job.
Despite having plenty of choices on the roster, the Leafs may still add Blais to replace one of the three players named by Steitzer or to play on the fourth line.
Blais featured in 53 games for the Blues in 2023-24, scoring one goal and assisting on six others, for a total of seven points.
The Maple Leafs have hired Craig Berube and are aiming for the championship.
Just one week after sacking former head coach Sheldon Keefe, the Toronto Maple Leafs agreed to hire Craig Berube as their next head coach, making him the franchise’s 32nd.
The Leafs announced Berube’s hire on Friday, May 17. The former Maple Leafs player will now strive to win the Cup for the franchise he previously played for.
The Leafs issued an official statement on May 9 explaining Keefe’s dismissal and announced that the search for a new head coach will begin “immediately” to fill the vacancy. “The organization will immediately begin the search for a new head coach,” the statement said.
The Leafs acknowledged the official appointment eight days later on their social media outlets and team website, and since then, Toronto has signed (and maybe overpaid) superstar defenseman Chris Tanev while navigating the Mitch Marner problem, among other offseason rumours.
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