Blackhawks Acquire Samsonov For Cullimore, Salmelainen
Chicago Blackhawks Press Release
June 16, 2007
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the team has acquired the five-time 20-plus goal scoring left winger Sergei Samsonov from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Jassen Cullimore and left winger Tony Salmelainen.
"We believe Sergei can rebound a give us a spark on the power play and offensively as well as improve our overall skill level," said Tallon. "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."
Samsonov (sam-SAWN-nanf), 28, 5’8”, 188 lbs., native of Moscow, USSR, appeared in 63 games for the Montreal Canadiens last season recording nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points and 10 penalty minutes.
Samsonov was selected by the Boston Bruins in the 1st round, 8th overall, in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He won the Calder Trophy for the 1997-98 season as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year while also being named to the NHL All-Rookie Team that season. Samsonov also played in the 2001 NHL All-Star Game.
A veteran of nine NHL seasons, Samsonov has appeared in 596 career NHL games registering 178 goals and 240 assists for 418 points and 119 penalty minutes while playing for the Bruins, Edmonton Oilers and Canadiens. He has also played in 59 career NHL playoff games recording 13 goals and 26 assists for 39 points and 14 penalty minutes.
Cullimore, 34, 6’5”, 220 lbs., spent the last two seasons with the Blackhawks appearing in 118 games while notching two goals and 12 assists for 14 points and 117 penalty minutes. In his NHL career, Cullimore has played in 643 games while scoring 21 goals and 59 assists for 80 points and 621 penalty minutes. He also appeared 35 career NHL playoff games scoring one goal and adding three assists for four points and 24 penalty minutes.
Cullimore was a member of the 2003-04 Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Champions. He was signed by the Blackhawks as a free agent on July 22, 2004.
Salmelainen, 25, 5’9”, 185 lbs., played one season with the Blackhawks, appearing in 57 games and scoring six goals and 11 assists for 17 points and 26 penalty minutes. In his NHL career, Salmelainen played in 70 games scoring six goals and 12 assists for 18 points and 30 penalty minutes.
Salmelainen was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2nd round, 41st overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft and was acquired by the Blackhawks in exchange for Jaroslav Spacek on January 26, 2006.
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