Sammy Blais Steps In as Maple Leafs Face Blue Jackets Without Nylander
Toronto Maple Leafs fans will see a bit of a lineup shuffle tonight, as forward Sammy Blais makes his debut in blue and white. The 29-year-old winger is stepping in for star forward William Nylander, who’s sitting out with a lower-body injury as the Leafs prepare to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Head coach Craig Berube confirmed earlier that Blais would be joining the lineup, giving Toronto a new look up front for the second game of their back-to-back stretch. Nylander’s absence isn’t a major surprise — he’s been managing the injury since last week’s game against Buffalo, and while he played a huge role early this season with three goals and twelve assists through nine games, the team is being cautious to avoid aggravating the issue.
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Blais’ debut brings an interesting storyline. The Quebec native was claimed off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens earlier this month, reuniting him with Berube, who previously coached him during their time together with the St. Louis Blues. In fact, that stint under Berube’s leadership might help him slot seamlessly into Toronto’s system. Blais is known for his gritty, two-way play — the kind of hard-nosed, physical style that Berube has often praised.
Over seven NHL seasons, Blais has played 257 games with the Blues and the New York Rangers, tallying 27 goals and 44 assists. He’s also no stranger to international success — he helped Team Canada capture gold at the 2023 IIHF World Championship in Finland and Latvia, where he scored six goals and added two assists in ten games. That experience and energy could be exactly what the Leafs need tonight as they face a Columbus team that tends to grind out tough, defensive games.
As for the Leafs, they’re coming off a 4-3 home win over the Calgary Flames, showing solid offensive depth even without Nylander at full health. Still, losing their top scorer means others will need to step up, especially in creating plays and maintaining puck possession in the offensive zone.
Berube’s decision to bring Blais in now seems both tactical and precautionary — protecting Nylander while testing how the team adapts to a new addition. Fans will be watching closely to see how Blais fits in with Toronto’s pace and how his physical presence might open up opportunities for the team’s offensive lines.
So as the puck drops tonight against the Blue Jackets, it’s not just another regular-season game — it’s a first look at how the Maple Leafs manage adversity early in the season and how new faces like Sammy Blais can make their mark when given the chance.
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