Lightning sign Samson

The Tampa Bay Lightning, parent club of the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, have signed forward Jerome Samson to a one-year, two-way contract.

Samson, 26, skated in 68 games with the St. John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League last season, recording 27 goals and 56 points to go along with 49 penalty minutes. He ranked first on the IceCaps and 12th in the AHL for power-play tallies with 11. The Greenfield Park, Que., native ranked second on St. John’s for goals and was third for points.

He also appeared in 17 AHL postseason games last season, posting three goals and six points and helping the IceCaps reach the Calder Cup Finals.

The 6-foot, 195-pound forward has skated in 424 career AHL games with St. John’s, Charlotte and Albany, posting 160 goals and 176 assists for 336 points to go along with 306 penalty minutes. Samson was named to the AHL First All-Star Team following the 2009-10 season after he posted 37 goals and 78 points while playing for Albany.

In 46 career NHL games, all with Carolina, Samson has notched two goals and nine points.