A viral infection that robbed Blandisi of the second half of his 2013-14 junior season and prompted the Colorado Avalanche to pass on their opportunity to sign their sixth-round pick (No. 162) in the 2012 NHL Draft may prove to be one of the best things that ever happened to him.

Offered a second chance by the New Jersey Devils, who signed Blandisi on Jan. 14, 2015, after he went undrafted following Colorado's decision, the Scarborough, Ontario, native has emerged as one of the more promising young players in the Devils organization.

Not that anyone should be surprised.

Blandisi scored 24 goals and 50 points in 47 games during 2013-14 while splitting time between Barrie and Ottawa of the Ontario Hockey League. After regaining his health and returning to Barrie for 2014-15, Blandisi led the OHL with 52 goals and finished fourth with 112 points.

Blandisi made the jump to the pro ranks a year later, beginning the season with Albany of the American Hockey League. After scoring 16 points in 18 games, Blandisi was called up to the Devils and made his NHL debut on Dec. 11, 2015.

Blandisi recorded his first NHL point with an assist on Jan. 12, 2016, against the St. Louis Blues, and scored his first NHL goal (on the power play) as part of a three-point game on Jan. 21, 2016. He finished the season with five goals, 12 assists and 34 penalty minutes in 41 games.

Four of the five goals came on the power play, where Blandisi had two assists and had his lone game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory against the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 14, 2016.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• Signed as a free agent by New Jersey, January 14, 2015.
• Traded to Anaheim by New Jersey with Adam Henrique and New Jersey's 3rd round pick in 2018 NHL Draft for Sami Vatanen and a conditional draft pick, November 30, 2017.
• Traded to Pittsburgh by Anaheim for Derek Grant, January 17, 2019.
• Traded to Montreal by Pittsburgh with Jake Lucchini for Riley Barber and Phil Varone, February 20, 2020.