Montreal Canadiens' latest roster move says a lot about their playoff plans
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Samuel Blais and Martin St-Louis are suddenly tied to the one Canadiens call-up decision that says the most before Game 4.
Montreal's black aces list is not just playoff housekeeping. It's a live snapshot of who still matters to this staff tonight.
The Canadiens recalled Owen Beck, Adam Engstrom, David Reinbacher and Florian Xhekaj from Laval. Blais was the name missing from the discussion around that group.
That's where the concern starts. Blais has 13 NHL games with Montreal this season, yet the club still leaned toward younger pieces with less NHL traction.
"Here are the black aces. The big absentee? Samuel Blais."
- Anthony Marcotte
- Anthony Marcotte
Montreal wanted Beck, Engstrom, Reinbacher and Florian Xhekaj around this series.
"The Canadiens have recalled Owen Beck, Adam Engstrom, David Reinbacher and Florian Xhekaj from the Laval Rocket as black aces for the playoffs."
- Montreal Canadiens
- Montreal Canadiens
This looks like a pecking-order shift
Blais has 2 goals and 5 points this season for Montreal. Beck has only 1 goal in 15 NHL games, but he still made the cut.
Engstrom has 15 NHL games on the blue line. Reinbacher has played 2. Florian Xhekaj has appeared in 5. All three still fit the club's development push.
Game 4 is not a distant maybe. It's tonight at Bell Centre, with Montreal leading Buffalo 2-1 in the series.
So St-Louis and the Canadiens are protecting their next wave, not reaching for veteran familiarity at the edge of the roster.
For Blais, that's the concern. In a playoff moment built on trust, he just looked outside the circle.
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