Oct 4, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens left wing Samuel Blais (27) plays the puck against the Ottawa Senators during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
With the National Hockey League’s Olympic roster freeze going into effect on Wednesday, the Montreal Canadiens have placed forward Samuel Blais on waivers.
Blais has played 13 games for the Canadiens in the NHL with two goals and three assists, but his last game was on January 15. It is fair to assume he wouldn’t have played in the team’s final game before the break on Wednesday in Winnipeg, so he was staring at over a month without a game if he wasn’t placed on waivers with the expectation of playing for the Laval Rocket in the American Hockey League over the break.
It is possible that he can be claimed, but any team claiming him would be facing the same predicament of not having a player with many game reps once the league gets back from its Olympic hiatus.
Blais also played eight games for the Toronto Maple Leafs after he was claimed off waivers to start the season.
The AHL will still be in action throughout February when the NHL is on its Olympic break. Blais would be able to clear waivers and be assigned prior to the roster freeze.