On June 12, 2019, the St. Louis Blues hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history. A member of the celebrations, having played in 15 playoff games for the Blues, St. Louis draft pick Sammy Blais also got his chance to lift the cup. Now, five years after helping bring a franchise their first championship, it’s hoped that Blais will do the same in Vancouver.
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Blais started his career with St. Louis, being picked by the Blues in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Draft, 176th overall. He made his NHL debut in the 2017–18 regular season, where he played 11 games and scored one goal and two assists. The next year would be progressive for Blais, who split games between St. Louis and the San Antonio Rampage (now the Henderson Silver Knights). With exposure to both the NHL and the AHL, Blais learned to adapt to each league’s style.
“When I was in the AHL, it was more like scoring faster,” the forward remarked. “But when you get to the NHL, everyone has skills, and you’re not always getting top-line minutes.”
Related: Vancouver Canucks Invite Sammy Blais To 2024 Training Camp On A PTO
These changes forced Blais to pivot, emphasizing a different area of his game. While he once tore up the AHL offensively, tallying 40 points in 43 games with San Antonio in the 2017–18 regular season, Blais is now known for a different style of play. His former coaches “liked the physical game and playing hard.
“I think that’s kind of my game, hard to play against,” said Blais. “You’ve got to do something else to stand out. And for me, it was being physical, being hard to play against, and that’s what’s made many successful in the NHL.”
Being a part of the Stanley Cup-winning team in 2018–19 saw a career-shift for Blais. The rest of this first stint with the Blues saw Blais only getting NHL playing time, partly due to the fact that the Vegas Golden Knights bought the Rampage but also due to his 13 and 15 points in 40 and 36 games, respectively. The scrappy forward can be relied on for some fourth-line offensive production, as well as a physical, possessive play style that will make it harder for opposing teams to get the puck.
“I’m still a good player offensively, but sometimes it’s harder to show when you play [on the] fourth line,” he clarified. “But I’m able to make some good plays, and for me, it’s just being confident with the puck and just playing my game.”
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Before the start of the 2021–22 regular season, Blais was traded to the New York Rangers, where he spent just under two seasons. His first campaign lasted 14 games, in which he put up four assists, while his second season in the Big Apple saw him venture back to the AHL before being sent back to the Blues.
“When I got traded to the Rangers, I think I was playing good,” he noted of his performances with New York. “When I got hurt, and coming back from that, that injury was pretty hard — but now I feel good and feel confident on the ice.”
Blais’ return to St. Louis in 2023 marked the biggest offensive output of his career in the NHL, with the forward scoring nine goals and 11 assists in 31 games. This led the Blues to sign him to a one-year deal worth a total of $1M.
“When I got back to St. Louis, I was put in a situation to be successful, and I think I proved it.”
Following his return to St. Louis, Blais joined team Canada at the World Championship, where he played alongside Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers. When he returned to St. Louis the season after, he scored one goal and six assists in 53 games. Sure, it was a down year for Blais, but this only helped forge an opportunity for him in Vancouver. It’s a new city, a new market, and a new contract for the Canadian forward.
“It’s kind of new coming on a new team and on a PTO, so I’m just trying to be myself out there,” he said. “Normally, I go onto a team with a contract and stuff. It’s been a little nerve-wracking. But, like I said, I’ve been around a long time in the NHL, so I kind of know what to do to be successful.
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that F Sammy Blais has signed a contract with Abbotsford (AHL) and has also been invited to Vancouver Canucks training camp (PTO). pic.twitter.com/AyYXvYYClC
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) August 22, 2024
“I’m gonna have to show what I can do. And for me, it’s just like I said — play my game. Be hard to play against. And I think if I do that, I’ll be good.”
New settings and new teams can only mean one thing for a player like Blais — new opportunities. It’s yet to be determined whether that will be with Vancouver or Abbotsford, but regardless, the Canucks organization will be able to lean on the versatile roleplaying that Blais can provide.
