Sammy Blais knows his days in the Maple Leaf starting lineup might be limited. Article content

So the winger was glad to make a quick contribution when the busy schedule and injuries caught up to the team. Article content Article content

Rewarding his former St. Louis coach Craig Berube’s faith in both pushing for him to be claimed on waivers, then finally inserting him after 10 games, Blais opened with a two-point game in Columbus then had a team-high five hits in 10 minutes of ice time Saturday in Philadelphia.

The 29-year-old Blais had not played an NHL game since 2023-24 in his second stint with the Blues. In between, he helped Vancouver’s farm team in Abbotsford, B.C., win the AHL Calder Cup.

“I was trying to stay ready in the practices and the gym so when my name got called I

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