In a move that signals a clear focus on shoring up the margins of their roster, the Toronto Maple Leafs dove into the waiver pool on Monday, emerging with two new faces: winger Sammy Blais and goaltender Cayden Primeau. While waiver claims rarely dominate the headlines, these low-cost, high-upside additions offer a fascinating glimpse into the team’s thinking as the final roster takes shape. For a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, success is often found in the details, and these moves address immediate needs while creating some intriguing internal competition.
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A Berube Guy for the Bottom Six
The claim of Sammy Blais from the Montreal Canadiens was a mild surprise, not because of the player, but because of the perceived depth the Leafs had already assembled. After a summer that saw the signing of veterans like Michael Pezzetta, Travis Boyd, and Vinni Lettieri, the bottom-six forward group seemed relatively set. However, with none of that trio seizing a definitive role in training camp, the door was left open for a player with a specific connection: Head Coach Craig Berube.
Blais and Berube are no strangers. The 6-foot-2, 200-plus-pound winger was part of the St. Louis Blues team that muscled its way to a Stanley Cup championship in 2019 under Berube’s guidance. That familiarity is key. Berube knows what he’s getting in Blais: a big body with surprisingly soft hands and a great shot. His primary value, however, lies on the defensive side of the puck.
Of course, there’s a reason a player like Blais is available on waivers. His career has been a study in inconsistency. With just 27 goals and 44 assists in 257 NHL games, he’s not a player who can be relied upon for offensive production. Concerns about his footspeed and a tendency for his physical engagement to run hot and cold have followed him throughout his career.
That said, Blais is coming off a season that suggests a potential career renaissance. After a difficult 2023-24 campaign, he signed with the Canucks organization and put together a stellar season in the AHL. He posted 40 points in 51 regular-season games and was a major factor in their Calder Cup victory, finishing third in team scoring with 19 points in 23 playoff contests. The Leafs are betting that this renewed confidence, combined with a reunion with his old coach, can unlock a more consistent version of the player at the NHL level.
The immediate impact of this acquisition is felt most by rookie sensation Easton Cowan. While fans are eager to see the highly-touted prospect make the jump, the addition of Blais provides a more traditional 13th or 14th forward. Having a veteran like Blais in the press box is a far more palatable option than stunting Cowan’s development by having him watch games from on high. While Cowan was seen skating as the extra forward in Monday’s practice, Berube was quick to state that no final decisions have been made. The logic, however, is clear: Blais is here to stay on the NHL roster, as sending him down would almost certainly mean losing him to another team on the waiver wire.
Solving the Goaltending Puzzle, One Claim at a Time
Perhaps the more pressing of the two claims was the acquisition of goaltender Cayden Primeau from the Carolina Hurricanes. The move was a direct response to the news that Joseph Woll would be taking an indefinite personal leave of absence, a situation that left the Leafs’ goaltending depth chart looking perilously thin.
The team had been giving veteran James Reimer a look on a Professional Tryout (PTO) contract, but the Primeau claim immediately changed the calculus. Reimer, seeking a clearer path to NHL playing time, was promptly released from his PTO. This shuffle leaves the Leafs with a new-look tandem to start the season. Anthony Stolarz is now the undisputed number one, with Primeau poised to serve as his backup.
This arrangement also has a positive downstream effect on the development of Dennis Hildeby. The organization would much prefer to have the promising young netminder playing heavy minutes as the starter for the Toronto Marlies rather than sitting on the bench in the NHL. Primeau’s arrival facilitates that plan perfectly.
At 26 years old, Primeau is at a crossroads in his career. Once a highly-touted prospect, the 6-foot-3 goaltender has yet to find his footing at the NHL level. In 55 career games, he’s posted a less-than-stellar .884 save percentage and a 3.69 goals-against average. Last season was particularly rough, with an .836 save percentage in 11 appearances for the Canadiens.
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However, much like Blais, his AHL resume tells a different story. Primeau has been dominant at that level, particularly last season with the Laval Rocket, where he boasted a sparkling .927 save percentage and a 1.96 GAA in 26 games. He set an AHL record with a 21-2-2 record, finishing the season on an incredible 11-0-2 run. He has a proven track record of leading his team deep into the Calder Cup playoffs, reaching the Eastern Conference Final in both 2022 and 2025. The Leafs are banking that this AHL success can finally translate to the big league, and at a cap hit of just $775,000, it’s a low-risk gamble with a potentially high reward.
Cap Maneuvering and Final Touches
The two claims were made possible by some shrewd roster management. The Leafs successfully passed Dakota Mermis, Henry Thrun, Matt Benning, and Michael Pezzetta through waivers, allowing them to retain that depth within the organization. The financial picture remains fluid, pending the official status of Woll and Scott Laughton on Injured Reserve. However, early projections suggest that the team can carry Blais and a defenceman like Philippe Myers as extras while remaining cap compliant. The fact that Primeau’s salary is slightly less than Hildeby’s provides an extra sliver of breathing room.
Ultimately, these two waiver claims are unlikely to single-handedly alter the course of the Maple Leafs’ season. What they do represent, however, is an intelligent and proactive approach to roster construction. They’ve added a physical, defensively responsible forward who is familiar with the coach’s system and a goaltender with a high ceiling to address a critical depth issue, all without surrendering any assets or significant cap space. In a league of tight margins, it’s moves like these that can make all the difference.
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