Au revoir, Sammy Blais.
The Montreal Canadiens took back their home-province winger two months after the Maple Leafs claimed him on waivers, snatching him back via the same process on Thursday afternoon.
Originally picked up by Toronto when centre Scott Laughton suffered a foot injury from a shot block in an exhibition game, Blais appeared in eight games with a goal and two assists.
He was endorsed by his former St. Louis Blues coach, Craig Berube, who appreciated his hustle and physical edge from their year as Stanley Cup champions in 2019.
Blais played in eight games for the Leafs, netting a goal and two assists.
One of his starts was this past Saturday in Montreal, during which he had no trouble firing himself up for after the Habs moved him to waivers at the end of their camp.
Blais had spent the previous season with the Abbotsford Canucks, playing a big role in their Calder Cup title, trying to work his way back to the NHL at age 29.
But, as of Wednesday, the Leafs were overloaded with forwards when Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and Nicolas Roy all returned at once in the 2-1 overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Blais was placed on waivers again and now Montreal can plug him in or use him on their AHL farm team in Laval.
Blais has 126 points in 265 NHL games since breaking in with the Blues as a sixth-round draft choice.
The Leafs practised Thursday in Washington, D.C., preparing for the third of six straight road games Friday evening against Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals. Blais’ departure and the demotion of centre Jacob Quillan to the Toronto Marlies, leaves Wednesday’s healthy scratches, Dakota Joshua and Matias Maccelli, as the spare forwards.
William Nylander. Wednesday’s overtime hero, was missing from practice with what the team called a maintenance day.