Canadiens Place Samuel Blais on Waivers Ahead of Olympic Roster Freeze

The move positions the winger to log AHL games during the Olympic break under the league’s roster freeze.

Overview

Montreal put Blais on waivers Tuesday, with an assignment to AHL Laval expected if he clears.
Blais last played on Jan. 15 after a 13-game run with the Canadiens and has been a healthy scratch for eight straight games.
The NHL’s Olympic roster freeze begins Wednesday, while the AHL schedule continues through February to keep players active.
Teams considering a claim would face limited NHL lineup opportunities during the freeze, which could reduce demand.
Blais opened the season with eight games for Toronto before Montreal re-claimed him in late November, and the move also anticipates possible post-break roster changes such as a Patrik Laine IR activation, per reporting.