Senators Recall Sammy Blais; Reassign Xavier Bourgault

According to a team announcement, the Ottawa Senators have recalled forward Sammy Blais from the AHL’s Belleville Senators. In a corresponding roster move, the Senators reassigned forward Xavier Bourgault.

Blais, 30, is in his first year with the Senators organization. The former Stanley Cup champion signed a two-year, $1.85MM ($925K AAV) contract with Ottawa this past offseason after splitting last season between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.

Although he played exclusively in the AHL during the 2024-25 campaign with the Abbotsford Canucks, Blais appeared in a quarter of the NHL season last year. He finished the season with one goal and three points in eight games for the Maple Leafs, and another two goals and five points in 13 games for the Canadiens.

Before his time in the NHL’s Atlantic Division, Blais enjoyed seven years in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers. Throughout that stretch, the former sixth-round pick registered 27 goals and 71 points in 257 contests with a -6 rating, averaging 11:20 of ice time per game.

Meanwhile, Bourgault returns to the AHL after being recalled on Friday. He went scoreless in two games for the Senators with a -1 rating, averaging 5:07 of ice time per game. Bourgault has scored three goals and nine points in 10 games for Belleville this season. Last year, he had a solid campaign, registering 25 goals and 57 points in 70 contests.