Sammy Blais Gears up for Season Opener with Toronto Maple Leafs against Calgary Flames

The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to see some changes in their lineup as they prepare to take on the Calgary Flames. In response to injuries sidelining forwards William Nylander, Calle Jarnkrok, and Scott Laughton, head coach Craig Berube has called upon Sammy Blais to make his season debut.

Having been claimed off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens, Blais hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2023-24 season. However, reunited with Coach Berube under whom he experienced a Stanley Cup win with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, Blais is set to bring energy and speed back to the Maple Leafs.

Berube asserted that Blais’ delayed debut was not due to performance or readiness issues, but rather a numbers game due to roster depth. Thanks to injuries opening doors, the 28-year-old forward known for his physical forecheck and strength is set to make his first appearance this season.

If Nylander remains unavailable, the expected forward lines are: Bobby McMann – Auston Matthews – Nick Robertson; Matthew Knies – John Tavares – Matias Maccelli; Dakota Joshua – Nic Roy – Easton Cowan; Steven Lorentz – Max Domi – Sammy Blais.

The Maple Leafs’ current standing of 4-4-1 displays a need for consistency as they progress through the early stages of the 2025-26 NHL season.

Sammy Blais’ journey with the NHL may just reignite under coach Berube. Praised by the coach upon his addition to the team, Blais, who is a sixth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues, has appeared in 257 career NHL games, scoring 27 goals and assisting 44 for a total of 71 points. His debut on Tuesday night represents a significant chance for him to reestablish himself at the NHL level under a coach he is familiar with. His return to the NHL, combined with the Maple Leafs’ ongoing adjustments, could just provide the spark the team needs to gain momentum.