Montreal Canadiens: Five Players Habs Could Buy At Trade Deadline

Samuel Blais

Even though the Canadiens are hanging around the playoff picture longer than we thought they would it doesn't mean they are going shopping for a big fish at the trade deadline. We are not going to see them deal a first round pick for Elias Lindholm, they just aren't there in their rebuild. At least not yet.

However, a depth winger who could play on the third line, or perhaps even the second line if they find their scoring touch would make sense. Especially if the asking price is low. One play that could fit that description is Samuel Blais.

The 27 year old from Montmagny, Quebec has had some ups and downs in his NHL career. After the 2020-21 season he was traded from the St. Louis Blues to the New York Rangers for Pavel Buchnevich who was coming off a near point per game season.

However, injuries and a lack of production would see his value tumble. In 54 games with the Rangers, split over two seasons, he scored zero goals and just nine assists. After being shipped back to the Blues last season he would finish the season with nine goals and 20 points in 31 games. This season, he is back to just one goal and six points in 25 games.

There is some upside as he is still a couple years shy of 30 and has had a couple spurts of producing like a second liner. He is also a hard nosed player that battles and stands in at 6'2". It is possible he would get a boost from joining his hometown team and become a tough player to play against at the Bell Centre.

With his lack of production, and the fact he is a pending unrestricted free agent, the Blues couldn't expect a big return for him. Something like a 4th round pick to add a potential impact winger to the middle six would be worth the small price for a team hanging around the playoff picture.