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, Samsonov won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie after scoring 22 goals and a total of 47 points. In the 2000-01 season, he played in his only NHL All-Star Game in Denver.

Before playing in the NHL, Samsonov 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 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. That 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 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. Samsonov is the only player in history to ever win the rookie of the year award for the IHL and the NHL in back-to-back seasons.

Olympic medal record
Men's ice hockey
	2002 Salt Lake City	Ice Hockey

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 (Milan Lucic). He was part of the Oilers team that made it to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final.

On July 12, 2006, Samsonov signed with the Montreal Canadiens for a two-year contract worth $7.05 million. Through a lackluster season, the Canadiens placed Samsonov on waivers in February 2007, 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 (AHL) 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 three-year contract worth $7.6 million. The deal paid Samsonov $2.3 million in 2008-09, $2.5 million in 2009-10 and $2.8 million in 2010-11.

At the 2011 trade deadline, Samsonov was traded to the Florida Panthers, where he played 20 games.

As of 2014, Samsonov was a scout for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1994-95	CSKA-2 Moscow	RUS-3		50	110	72	182			—	—	—	—	—
1994-95	CSKA Moscow	IIHL		13	2	2	4	14		—	—	—	—	—
1995-96	CSKA Moscow	IIHL		51	21	17	38	12		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	Detroit Vipers	IHL		73	29	35	64	18		19	8	4	12	12
1997-98	Boston Bruins	NHL		81	22	25	47	8		6	2	5	7	0
1998-99	Boston Bruins	NHL		79	25	26	51	18		11	3	1	4	0
1999-00	Boston Bruins	NHL		77	19	26	45	4		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	Boston Bruins	NHL		82	29	46	75	18		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	Boston Bruins	NHL		74	29	41	70	27		6	2	2	4	0
2002-03	Boston Bruins	NHL		8	5	6	11	2		5	0	2	2	0
2003-04	Boston Bruins	NHL		58	17	23	40	4		7	2	5	7	0
2004-05	Dynamo Moscow	RSL		3	1	0	1	0		3	1	2	3	0
2005-06	Boston Bruins	NHL		55	18	19	37	22		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		19	5	11	16	6		24	4	11	15	14
2006-07	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		63	9	17	26	10		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		23	0	4	4	6		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		38	14	18	32	10		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		2	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		81	16	32	48	28		17	5	3	8	6
2009-10	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		72	14	15	29	32		—	—	—	—	—
2010-11	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		58	10	16	26	12		—	—	—	—	—
2010-11	Florida Panthers	NHL		20	3	11	14	2		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				888	235	336	571	209		76	18	29	47	20

International

Year	Team	Event	Place		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1996	Russia	WJC	03 !		7	4	2	6	0
1997	Russia	WJC	03 !		6	6	1	7	0
Junior int'l totals					13	10	3	13	0
2002	Russia	Oly	03 !		6	1	2	3	4
2004	Russia	WCH	5th		4	1	2	3	0
Senior int'l totals					10	2	4	6	4

[ Source: Wikipedia ]