Samsonov not joining Sharks training camp

In 1997, the Boston Bruins had two top-10 picks in the NHL draft. They took Joe Thornton first overall, and they grabbed Sergei Samsonov with the eighth pick. They both came up in 1998 and it was actually Samsonov who had the bigger impact and won Rookie of the Year.

Fast forward some 12 years. Samsonov was out of the league in 2011-12, but is looking to make a comeback. His agent, Igor Larionov, told the Edmonton Journal that Samsonov was headed to San Jose Sharks camp to make a run at a roster spot.

That’s all well and good…if Larionov was actually his agent. He’s not. It turns out, Neil Abbot is his agent, and he says those reports are nonsense.

“Sergei is definitely making a comeback,” said Abbott to CSNNE.com. “He is skating with Igor in Detroit, but Larionov is not his agent. I am speaking with several teams and we have not made a deal with the San Jose Sharks.”

So, someone with the Edmonton Journal is probably getting reamed out as we speak about proper journalistic procedures.

Samsonov is still just 33-years old and could most certainly help an NHL team, but it just isn’t the Sharks…just yet.