Just before final rosters are announced for the opening of the NHL season, the Toronto Maple Leafs shored up their depth with two waiver-wire additions in Sammy Blais and Cayden Primeau.

Blais, a defensively minded winger on a $775,000 contract, was claimed from the Montreal Canadiens. Primeau, a career backup goalie, had signed a one-year, $775,000 contract ahead of this season with the Carolina Hurricanes after spending the entirety of his career with the Canadiens.

Both Blais and Primeau cannot be sent to the AHL without clearing waivers again. With opening night rosters set to be announced, it is likely both will be added to the Leafs’ roster to fill depth roles.

Blais has a history with Leafs head coach Craig Berube, playing three of his four seasons with the St. Louis Blues under Berube. Blais won a Stanley Cup in 2019 with Berube as head coach, playing in 15 playoff games. Blais did not play an NHL game last season, logging 51 games of AHL time for the Abbotsford Canucks.

The addition of Blais suggests that Easton Cowan could be sent to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies to start the season. Cowan was the 13th forward during Monday’s practice. While Cowan has impressed Berube during training camp, there could be some hesitation about throwing him into the coach’s physical, forechecking system without any pro games under his belt.

Blais is better suited to fill that role. He plays with grit and isn’t afraid to get in on the forecheck.

Primeau could also be likely to feature in NHL action soon enough. The continued absence of Joseph Woll due to a family matter has left a question mark surrounding the team’s goaltending. NHL veteran and former Leaf James Reimer was brought in on a PTO, but the addition of Primeau suggests his time in Toronto may be coming to a close.

Dennis Hildeby, currently the Leafs’ No. 2, is waivers-exempt and could return to take over starting duties for the Marlies. He has only played six NHL games.

Primeau, meanwhile, is only one season removed from playing 23 NHL games for the Canadiens and posting a .910 save percentage in 2023-24. He played just 11 games for the Canadiens last season, however, posting a 2-3-1 record and an .836 save percentage. He was 21-2-2 with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, where he posted a .927 save percentage.

Primeau could very well back up Anthony Stolarz to start the season. The Leafs play their first back-to-back during their third and fourth games of the season, at home to the Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators. Primeau could start one of those games.

The Leafs open their season on Wednesday at home against the Montreal Canadiens.