Sergei Samsonov

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Left Wing
shoots = Right
height_ft = 5
height_in = 8
weight_lb = 188
team = Carolina Hurricanes
former_teams = Edmonton Oilers
Boston Bruins
Montreal Canadiens
Chicago Blackhawks
league = NHL
nationality = Russia
birth_date = birth date and age|1978|10|27
birth_place = Moscow, USSR
career_start = 1995
draft = 8th overall
draft_year = 1997
draft_team = Boston Bruins

Sergei Samsonov ("Russ:" Сергей Викторович Самсонов, "Sergej Viktorovič Samsonov"; born October 27, 1978 near Moscow, Russia graduated from high-school # 804 ( Zelenograd ( Moscow), Russia ) is a professional ice hockey forward with the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL. He is a small player by NHL standards at 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) and 194 lb (88 kg), but he is nonetheless effective with excellent stickhandling and skating skills.

Playing career

Samsonov was drafted by the Boston Bruins eighth overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Boston drafted Joe Thornton first overall in the same draft.In his rookie year, Sergei won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie after scoring 22 goals and a total of 47 points. In the 2000-2001 season, he played in his only NHL All Star Game in Denver.

Before playing in the NHL, Sergei represented Russia in 1996 and 1997 at the World Junior Hockey Championships. He led the 1997 Russian team to a bronze medal and was named the tournament's most outstanding forward after scoring six goals in six games. He later played for Russia in 2002 at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, earning a bronze medal.

In his early career, Samsonov was a highly-touted prospect cited as the next future star of international hockey as he wowed fans and scouts alike with his shifty turns and scoring prowess. Samsonov scored 110 goals in 50 games with the Red Army junior team in 1994-95. This was prior to moving up to the Elite team later that season. He had 23 goals, 19 assists for a total of 42 points with 26 PIM in 64 career games with the Red Army elite team. In 1996-97, he played for the Detroit Vipers of the now-defunct International Hockey League, and won the Garry F. Longman Memorial Trophy as the league's Rookie of the Year. He also won the league championship, the Turner Cup, with the Vipers.

On March 9, 2006, Samsonov was traded from Boston to the Edmonton Oilers for Marty Reasoner, Yan Stastny, and a second round pick in the 2006 NHL entry draft. He was part of the Oiler team that made it to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final.

On July 12th, 2006, Samsonov signed with the Montreal Canadiens for a 2-year contract worth $7.05M. Through a lackluster season, the Canadiens placed Samsonov on waivers in February 2007cite web
title = CANADIENS PLACE SAMSONOV ON WAIVERS
url = http://www.thehockeynews.com/en/news/news.asp?idNews=23377
publisher = Thehockeynews.com
date = 2007-02-06
accessdate = 2007-02-06] , and traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks for Jassen Cullimore and Tony Salmelainen in June 2007.

On January 3, 2008, the Blackhawks assigned Samsonov to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League after he cleared waivers. It was a disappointing move for the former Calder Memorial Trophy Winner, although Samsonov did score in his debut for Rockford against the Chicago Wolves.

On January 8, 2008, the Carolina Hurricanes claimed Samsonov off re-entry waivers. He recorded his first point as a Hurricane on January 12, 2008, against the Colorado Avalanche and scored his first goal three days later in a three-point game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

On April 16, 2008 the Hurricanes announced that they had reached an agreement with Samsonov for a 3-year contract worth $7.6M. The deal will pay Samsonov $2.3 million in 2008-09, $2.5 million in 2009-10 and $2.8 million in 2010-11cite web
title = Hurricanes Agree to Terms with Sergei Samsonov
url = http://hurricanes.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=360668
publisher = Carolinahurricanes.com
date = 2007-04-16
accessdate = 2007-04-16] .

Personal

Samsonov and his wife Meghan have a young daughter named Natasha.

Career statistics

ee also

*List of NHL players
*List of NHL seasons
*

References

External links

*nhlprofile|8466035
*hockeydb|15609