July 20, 2012 1:09 PM
The Hurricanes have brought back another key forward from last season’s team, agreeing to terms on a new one-year deal with Jerome Samson.
Samson, 24, scored in the Checkers’ final game of the 2011-12 regular season to ensure that he would hit the 20-goal mark for the fifth time in his five AHL campaigns, all with the Carolina organization. The undrafted Quebec native also played 16 games with the Hurricanes, scoring his first two NHL goals to go along with three assists.
Having been on the cusp of the NHL roster for the last three seasons, during which he played a total of 45 games with Carolina, Samson should again contend for a spot in Raleigh. If and when he plays for Charlotte, he’ll continue to be one of the team’s top options at even strength and on the power play, where he scored a team-high nine goals last season.
Samson becomes the latest of the team’s restricted free agents to re-sign with Carolina, joining Chris Terry, who inked a two-year deal exactly one week earlier. Fellow top forwards Drayson Bowman and Zach Boychuk round out the remaining list of restricted players.
The Checkers’ all-time leader in shots on goal with 468, Samson led the team in that category once again last season. He also tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals and ranked fourth on the team with 37 points despite playing in just 57 games.
The AHL selected Samson to his second AHL All-Star Classic in as many years in January, but he could not participate due to a shoulder injury suffered while on NHL duty with Carolina. |
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