Topic: Sergei Samsonov

Sergei Viktorovich Samsonov (Russian: Серге́й Ви́кторович Самсо́нов, Sergej Viktorovič Samsonov; born October 27, 1978) is a Russian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is a small player by NHL standards, standing 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) and 194 lb (88 kg), but he is nonetheless effective with excellent stickhandling and skating skills.

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.