Blackhawks lose Samsonov to Hurricanes

MONTREAL - The Blackhawks lost veteran winger Sergei Samsonov on Tuesday when he was claimed off re-entry waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Samsonov twice cleared waivers last week and had been sent by the Hawks to their American Hockey League affiliate in Rockford.

Samsonov had no goals in 23 games for the Hawks, who had no plans to bring him back from the minors.

"He was given a chance," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. "The first 15 or 20 games, I played him in all situations and I played him with good players, but after a while you have to go with what's going good.

"Things just didn't go for him and when I look at the sheet and see no goals, it's pretty tough to play him in your top six. And if he doesn't play in the top six then he doesn't fit."

Because he was claimed on re-entry waivers, the Hurricanes will pay only half of what what was remaining on Samsonov's $3.525 million salary with the Hawks picking up the other half.

The Hawks acquired the 29-year-old Samsonov in a trade with Montreal last June in exchange for defenseman Jassen Cullimore and winger Tony Salmelainen.