CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks acquired left wing Sergei Samsonov from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Jassen Cullimore and left wing Tony Salmelainen.
Samsonov appeared in 63 games for the Canadiens last season, recording nine goals and 17 assists. The 28-year-old Samsonov is a veteran of nine NHL seasons, having also played for Boston and Edmonton.
"We feel he has a lot left in the tank and playing under Denis Savard will bring out the offensive creativity that he has shown in the past," Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon said Saturday.
Cullimore spent the last two seasons with the Blackhawks, appearing in 118 games and scoring two goals while totaling 117 penalty minutes. Salmelainen played one season with the Blackhawks, appearing in 57 games and scoring six goals.
Samsonov was a disappointment in his only year in Montreal. The former two-time 29-goal scorer was a healthy scratch in the season's last 13 games after he questioned whether he made the right move in signing with the Canadiens, and general manager Bob Gainey said after the season that Samsonov would not be coming back.
"Considering we didn't have plans for Sergei Samsonov in our organization for next season, our options were either to buy out his contact or to trade him in order to allow us to save valuable cap room over the next two seasons," Gainey said Saturday.
