Abbotsford Canucks postseason standout, Sammy Blais, signs a one-year, one-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens in the first two hours of NHL free agency.
The Athletic’s Chris Johnston later reported that Blais’ one-year deal is worth $775,000.
Blais signed an AHL contract with the Canucks late last offseason, with an opportunity to earn an NHL contract in training camp. However, after struggling through the first four preseason games, Blais was sent down to the AHL, where he would play out the remainder of the season.
It was a slow start in Abbotsford for Blais. After a one-goal, two-point opening night against the Calgary Wranglers, Blais went the following five games without a point. But then he started to get acclimated and began to consistently find the scoresheet, finishing the season with 14 goals and 40 points in 51 regular season games.
But the playoffs are when Blais shines.
Blais got off to a blazing start to the Calder Cup playoffs, scoring a pair of goals in the opening game. And found himself leading the AHL in points after the first two rounds (three goals and eight points in seven games). The 6’2″ winger would get under the skin of his opposition often, racking up 57 penalty minutes through four games.
After going cold in the Western Conference Finals (one assist in the six-game series), the former Stanley Cup Champion stepped up in a big way in the Calder Cup Finals with seven points en route to their Championship.
In the same announcement, the Canadiens also signed Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year deal, the goaltender who Abbotsford defeated in the Calder Cup Final. Blais scored three goals in on Kahkonen in the Finals, including the Canucks’ opening goal on the power play in Game 6 to cut the lead in half heading into the first intermission.
While Blais became a fan favourite for his play in the postseason, he was searching for an opportunity to get back into the NHL. And that’s what the Lévis, Quebec native got with his one-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens.