Leafs turn heads by waiving their own waiver claim

Sammy Blais is back on waivers, but this time, it’s the team that claimed him earlier this season putting him there. The Toronto Maple Leafs placed the forward on waivers Wednesday, just weeks after snatching him off the wire from the Montreal Canadiens.

Blais was placed on waivers by Montreal in early October, where he was quickly picked up by Toronto as the Leafs looked to add depth, physicality, and versatility to their bottom six. But with the team juggling injuries, cap constraints, and roster combinations, Blais never truly found his footing in Toronto’s lineup. And now with the return of key players like Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and Nicolas Roy, Blais is the odd man out.

Since arriving from the Canadiens, Blais has appeared in limited action with the Leafs, contributing energy but struggling to carve out a consistent role.

If Blais clears, which is entirely possible given his contract and the league-wide cap squeeze, he is expected to report to the AHL Marlies. But with several teams looking for inexpensive depth, a claim isn’t totally out of the question.

For Blais, it’s been a whirlwind season: waived by Montreal, claimed by Toronto, and now exposed to waivers again. For the Leafs, it’s a reminder of how quickly roster needs can shift, and how volatile the bottom of an NHL lineup can be.