Sammy Blais Bio
Samuel Blais, known professionally as Sammy Blais, is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a winger. Currently under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL), he has been assigned to the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL). Blais is recognized for his physical play, scoring touch, and resilience after working his way up through junior hockey.
Born on June 17, 1996, in Montmagny, Quebec, Blais was selected 176th overall in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues. He helped the Blues capture their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2019 and has since played for the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs, in addition to his time in the AHL.
Early Life and Background
Samuel Blais was born on June 17, 1996, in Montmagny, Quebec, Canada, to parents Sébastien and Marie-Josée. He grew up with his older brother Étienne, who also pursued hockey and last played for the Montmagny Décor Mercier in the Ligue Hockey Côte-Sud. The brothers shared a passion for the sport, and their family supported their development in the local Quebec hockey scene.
As a young player, Blais played summer hockey with future NHL forward Daniel Sprong until they were around 10 or 11 years old. His early career began with the Rive-Sud Express in Quebec, where he recorded 10 goals and 16 assists in 23 regular-season games. He later competed in the 2008 and 2009 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments, representing the Rive-Sud Est and later Rimouski.
Blais attended the Lévis Commandeurs training camp during the summer of 2012 but failed to make the jump to AAA midget for the second time. He later admitted he thought it was the end of his hockey career, but he caught the attention of general manager Frédéric Lavoie of the Trois-Rivières Estacades and was signed to their team. With the Estacades in 2012–13, he recorded 16 goals and 24 assists, helping them qualify for the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League playoffs.
Path to Hockey
Blais was selected 129th overall in the 2013 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft by the Victoriaville Tigres, though he was initially reassigned to the Commandeurs. At the time of his selection, he stood at 5’9″ but was praised for having undeniable potential for development. He split the 2013–14 season between the Commandeurs and the Tigres before being chosen by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, learning of the selection through Twitter.
Blais rejoined the Tigres for the 2014–15 season and posted a career-high 82 points in 61 games. After losing in the playoffs, he signed an Amateur Tryout Agreement with the Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, on April 22, 2015. He was eventually released, attended the Blues’ Prospect Camp, and rejoined the Tigres for his final junior season, where he led the team in scoring. On November 14, 2015, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Blues.
Traded to the Charlottetown Islanders on December 20, 2015, Blais produced 40 points in 30 games before the deal. With the Islanders, he continued his scoring prowess and contributed on the penalty kill, helping the team record 82 points in 63 games. He was nominated for the team’s Offensive Player of the Year Award and Three Stars Award at season’s end.
Sammy Blais Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Sammy Blais began his professional career with the Chicago Wolves during the 2016–17 AHL season. He recorded two shots on goal in his debut on October 14, 2016, against the Grand Rapids Griffins and notched his first professional goal on November 5 in a 4–2 win over the Griffins. He went on to lead the Wolves in scoring with 26 goals in 75 games and helped the team reach the 2017 Calder Cup playoffs, where they fell to the Griffins in the Central Division Finals.
Following a strong showing at Blues training camp, Blais was reassigned to the San Antonio Rampage to open the 2017–18 season. After just two games, he earned his first NHL call-up and made his debut on October 14, 2017, in a 2–1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He recorded his first NHL goal on November 26 to help the Blues beat the Minnesota Wild 6–3. Blais alternated between San Antonio and St. Louis six times that season, prompting reporters to jokingly refer to the highway between the two cities as the Sammy Blais Expressway.
St. Louis Blues Era (2018–2021)
Blais made the Blues’ opening night roster for the 2018–19 season and played in eight games before being reassigned to the Rampage. He spent nine games at the AHL level before earning another recall, and continued to split time between leagues as the Blues qualified for the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. He made his playoff debut in Game 6 of the Second Round of the Western Conference and scored his first NHL playoff goal to force a seventh game. Blais and the Blues ultimately defeated the Boston Bruins to claim the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.
Returning for the 2019–20 season, Blais impressed coach Craig Berube and was assigned a top-line position alongside David Perron and Ryan O’Reilly. After recording eight points in 20 games, he missed 10 weeks to recover from wrist surgery following a 3–1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He returned on January 28, 2020, against the Calgary Flames after missing 28 games. During the NHL’s COVID-19 suspension, he signed a two-year, $3 million contract extension with the Blues.
Blais opened the 2020–21 season against the Colorado Avalanche but received a two-game suspension and forfeited salary after an illegal check to the head of Devon Toews. On July 23, 2021, he was traded, along with a 2022 second-round pick, to the New York Rangers in exchange for Pavel Buchnevich. With the Rangers, he registered four assists in 14 games before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament on November 15, 2021, after a slew-foot by P. K. Subban, ending his season.
Return to St. Louis and Abbotsford (2022–2025)
On February 9, 2023, Blais was traded back to the St. Louis Blues as part of a package for former teammates Niko Mikkola and Vladimir Tarasenko. On March 2, 2023, he signed a one-year contract extension. After his contract ended, he left the Blues as a free agent and, on August 22, 2024, agreed to a one-year AHL contract with the Abbotsford Canucks while attending the Vancouver Canucks’ training camp on a professional tryout. Released from the PTO on September 30, Blais helped Abbotsford capture the 2025 Calder Cup on June 23, 2025.
Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2025–Present)
Entering the 2025 offseason as an unrestricted free agent, Blais agreed to a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens on July 1, 2025. Before playing a game for Montreal, he was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 6, reuniting him with former Blues head coach Craig Berube. After appearing in eight games for the Leafs and recording three points, he was placed on waivers and subsequently claimed by the Canadiens in late November.
Due to underlying provisions in the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, Blais immediately joined the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. He remains under contract to the Montreal Canadiens organization as he continues his professional career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Blais is recognized for his physical style of play, using his 6’2″, 205-pound frame to deliver punishing hits along the boards and in open ice. He has credited former Blues coach Craig Berube for teaching him to use his shoulders more effectively, transforming him into a more complete player. Blais combines his physical approach with a reliable scoring touch, making him a valuable depth winger at both the NHL and AHL levels.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Blais’s most defining moments came in 2019, when he helped the St. Louis Blues capture their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. His first NHL playoff goal in the Second Round against the San Jose Sharks helped push the series to seven games. In May 2023, he represented Canada at the IIHF World Championship, scoring two goals, including the game-winner, in the gold-medal final to secure a championship for his country.
Sammy Blais Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Sammy Blais was raised in Montmagny, Quebec, by his parents Sébastien and Marie-Josée. His older brother, Étienne Blais, also pursued hockey, with their shared passion for the sport shaping Sammy’s formative years. The Blais family’s deep roots in Quebec hockey culture provided a strong foundation for Sammy’s development as a player.
Personal Life
Details about Sammy Blais’s personal life beyond his family background remain largely private. He continues to focus on his professional hockey career as he navigates between the NHL and AHL levels.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been eventful for Sammy Blais, beginning with his signing of a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens on July 1, 2025. He never appeared in a game for Montreal, however, as he was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 6. In Toronto, he reunited with former Blues head coach Craig Berube and recorded three points in eight games before being placed on waivers and reclaimed by the Canadiens in late November.
Following his return to the Montreal organization, Blais was assigned to the Laval Rocket of the AHL under the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. His focus now turns to contributing at the AHL level while remaining available for call-up to the Canadiens.
With a Stanley Cup ring from 2019 and a Calder Cup championship from 2025 already on his resume, Blais continues to bring veteran experience and physicality to his team. His 2025 journey underscores both the challenges and the resilience that have defined his professional career.
