RALEIGH, NC – Jason Karmanos, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with right wing Jerome Samson (jeh-ROHM SAM-soh) on a two-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Samson $500,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the minor-league level in the first year, and $525,000/$105,000 in the second year.

Samson, 22, led the Albany River Rats in 2009-10, and ranked tied for second among all American Hockey League (AHL) skaters with 37 goals, and tied for fourth among AHL skaters with 78 points. The Greenfield Park, Que., native was named to the AHL’s first All-Star team at the conclusion of the season, and was honored as the league’s Player of the Month for March. Samson (6’0”, 195 lbs.) made his NHL debut on Jan. 7 at Nashville, and earned an assist on Rod Brind’Amour’s goal during his first NHL shift. He finished the 2009-10 season with two assists in seven NHL games with Carolina.

Since turning professional to start the 2007-08 season, Samson has scored 80 goals and earned 91 assists (171 points) in 209 AHL regular-season games with Albany. The Hurricanes signed Samson as an undrafted free agent in July 2007.