BROSSARD – Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes announced on Tuesday that the team has agreed to terms on one-year, one-way contracts with forward Samuel Blais and goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen.
Blais, 29, played 51 AHL games with the Abbotsford Canucks in 2024-25, tallying 40 points (14G, 26A) and served 44 penalty minutes. The Montmagny, QC native also registered six goals and 13 assists in 23 playoff contests to help the Canucks win the AHL’s Calder Cup.
In 257 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers, Blais recorded 71 points (27G, 44A) and spent 122 minutes in the penalty box. Blais was selected in the sixth round (176th overall) by the Blues at the 2014 NHL Draft.
Kahkonen, 28, appeared in 56 AHL gamesthis season with the Colorado Eagles, Manitoba Moose and Charlotte Checkers, posting a 14-20-1 record. The Helsinki, FIN native also suited up in 18 playoff contests with the Checkers, earning a 12-6 record, a .906 SV% and a 2.18 GAA.
Over the course of his career, Kahkonen has played 140 NHL games with the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche, posting a 49-68-15 record, a .898 SV%, a 3.34 GAA as well as four shutouts. The 6-foot-2, 217-pound goaltender was selected by the Wild in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft.
