Ottawa Senators recall Sammy Blais, send Xavier Bourgault back to Belleville
Sammy Blais, who has seven points in nine games with Belleville, could debut Wednesday against Buffalo.
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The Ottawa Senators recalled left winger Sammy Blais from AHL affiliate Belleville on Monday evening and sent forward Xavier Bourgault back down.
Blais, 30, signed a two-year, two-way contract on July 1 worth an average annual value of $925,000. He has seven points, three goals and four assists, in nine games with Belleville this season, where he has been playing on the top line. He missed Belleville's past four games and the reason has not been made clear. Blais has played four consecutive NHL seasons, from 2019 to 2022, and this will be his sixth organization in five seasons.
He could make his Senators debut Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Bourgault played two games with Ottawa. On Saturday in a 5-1 win over the San Jose Sharks his turnover on a breakout led to the only goal against him, and he played 7:25. On Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks he played four shifts for 2:49. Phil Tomasino was recalled alongside Bourgault and remains with Ottawa, with two points in two games and a top-nine role both weekend games. Kasper Halttunen remains in Belleville with 12 points, nine goals and three assists, in 12 games.
Ottawa is also missing players to injury. William Eklund is out after ankle surgery, Andre Burakovsky has a lower-body injury and Warren Foegele has an apparent knee injury. Travis Green has been reluctant to dress seven defencemen, and rookie Carter Yakemchuk has been scratched three straight games.
Why did Blais miss Belleville's past four games?
What did the Senators say about why Bourgault was sent back down?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
