The 10-year veteran will be paid $2.3 million in 2008-09, $2.5 million in 2009-10 and $2.8 million in 2010-11.

"It was nice to establish myself again, and I was glad to get that opportunity with a good organization and good group of guys,'' Samsonov said.

"I wanted to stay here, and I'm glad the feeling was mutual."

Samsonov, 29, won the Calder Trophy for the NHL's top rookie in 1997-98 but found himself on re-entry waivers in January after scoring only nine goals in 86 games for the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks since the start of the 2006-07 season.

In need of scoring -- and knowing they would only have to pay Samsonov roughly $800,000 -- the Hurricanes claimed him off waivers, and he went on to revive his reputation with 14 goals and 18 assists in 38 games.

Hurricanes president and general manager Jim Rutherford credited Samsonov's relationship with his Hurricanes teammates and coach Peter Laviolette (who was an assistant coach when Samsonov was in Boston), for the turnaround -- as well as the forward's desire to prove himself after a lackluster 1 1/2 seasons.

"He had a real setback when things didn't go well in Chicago ... to play in the minors, for a player of that caliber, that's a real challenge,'' Rutherford said. "When he realized he was getting another opportunity, he made the most of it."

Rutherford said he was pleased to sign Samsonov so quickly because "the sooner we got him in place, the sooner we could get a better understanding of what else we can do to move forward."

He said he will continue to focus on signing the team's Group II restricted free agents, "and then we'll have our hockey meetings the first part of May and June, and focus on what changes we need to make." He said that defense, in particular, would be a focus of change.

Signing Samsonov might help that, too. Now that the Hurricanes have a surplus of forwards, they could move one to get a defenseman to replace Glen Wesley and/or Bret Hedican, either or both of whom could retire.

But first and foremost, signing Samsonov helps solidify the Hurricanes' attack.

"This is a good skating team, and the team plays up-tempo, which is my game,'' Samsonov said. "Unfortunately, we have a long layoff, but I look forward to next September."