Which Former Client Will Montreal Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes Acquire Next?

Samuel Blais

Samuel Blais has had an odd up and down career thus far. He started with the St. Louis Blues and showed some promise, scoring 13 points in 40 games in his first full NHL season and then eight goals and 15 points in 36 games the following season.

The fact he is a 6'2" and 205 pound wrecking ball on ice made those numbers look like he could be a great third line winger that is a pain in the neck to play against and could chip in 15-20 goals and 30-35 points. That would be a great player to have on a playoff roster.

Then he was traded to the New York Rangers and he forgot how to score. He put up zero, that is zero, goals in 54 games before he was shipped back to the Blues halfway through last season. He rediscovered his game there, scoring nine goals and 20 points in 31 games to close out last season, but has just one goal and seven points in 41 games this year.

He will be a free agent this summer and if someone can get him to unlock his scoring touch and turn him into a 15 goal, 35 point winger there is a great player in there. If anyone is going to bring that out of him, it would be his former agent, who is now the general manager of the Montreal Canadiens.

Blais would come cheap, and likely around the $1 million on a one year contract like he is making this season and could turn into a nice addition to the top nine. Or just be a placeholder until a young player shows they are ready but there is nothing to lose.