Senators Have A Tough Decision With Blais

Only a few days into Ottawa Senators training camp, free agent signee Sammy Blais is making a positive impact.

Residing on the South Shore of the St. Lawrence River in Montmagny, close to Quebec City, the Senators were one of Blais’ offseason targets.

The 30-year-old was ecstatic to ink a two-year, two-way deal. Wanting to make an impression and familiarize himself with the city, Blais arrived in Ottawa on August 20.

“I kind of wanted that two-year deal, and my agent (Philippe Lecavalier) did the work with them, and we came up with that. And I was really happy to come here. Staying close to home in Quebec was important for me too, so I’m really happy to sign here. Great, great group of guys, and really excited to be here,” Blais told Hockey Hot Stove.

“I think the way they play the game, it’s kind of a little bit how I play to my style of game. So that was important too, to find a team that played the same way as I do a little bit. So when I got an opportunity to sign with Ottawa, I did.

Known as a good skater who makes plays and injects physicality, Blais brings a winning pedigree. The forward was a member of the 2019 Stanley Cup-winning St. Louis Blues, the 2023 IIHF World Championship Gold, in addition to a 2025 American Hockey League Calder Cup win with Abbotsford.

Though Blais saw limited time last season, the veteran of 305 NHL games, including playoffs, had a decent season.

Signed to a one-year contract with Montreal in the offseason, the Canadiens placed him on waivers out of training camp. Claimed by the Maple Leafs, Blais registered one goal, two assists in eight games. The Canadiens re-claimed the Blues’ 2014 sixth-rounder and were able to send Blais to AHL Laval. The six-two, 206-pound wing was more than a point-per-game producer for the Rocket, recording 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists) in 35 outings.

Blais also posted five points (two goals, three assists) in 13 games with Montreal.

A pesky player, Blais has been skating alongside centre Ridly Greig since the opening of Senators camp Thursday. Blais set up Greig for a goal in Saturday’s scrimmage at the Senplex.

Of his training camp linemate, Greig said, “I feel like he’s a pretty smart player. Makes a lot of little smart plays and finds us in the right spots. He’s a smart guy.”

Senators head coach Travis Green has a number of tough roster decisions to make with many players challenging for a bottom-six forward role. Blais is among those vying along with Philip Tomasino. With forward Warren Foegele currently out with injury and Greig sitting out the first two games of the season due to a suspension, there’s a chance Blais may crack the Senators’ opening roster.

Green said of Blais, “He’s definitely one of those players that we’re going to watch closely. I’ve watched, I’ve liked Sammy his whole career, so he’s a good player to have for us. Where he ends up, I don’t know, but I think he’s had a pretty good first three days. He’s a competitive guy. I think he understands his role. Seems like he’s very hungry, and those are all attributes that we like in our players. So, he’s one of those guys that we have to watch.”