Surfing through the last news reports out of Dallas, I noted that the Stars had yesterday recalled forward Toby Petersen but he'd have to pass through re-entry waivers.

Usually during the season a team can claim a player via re-entry waivers and only have to pick up half his remaining salary. However, there is an interesting twist to the rule after the trade deadline has passed.

As per Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News:

The process involving re-entry waivers changes after the trade deadline, as a team can claim Petersen for half price and place him on their NHL roster, but they cannot play him in the regular season or in playoff games for the remainder of the season. That allows teams to make call-ups like this without much risk of losing a player.

Pretty much ensures that a team can safely recall a player via re-entry waivers without fear of losing him to another team from the day after the trade deadline to the end of the season and into the playoffs.

Just goes to show you learn something new about the CBA every day!

Winger Sergei Samsonov will get another chance to get his NHL career back on track.

The Carolina Hurricanes announced they’ve claimed Samsonov off re-entry waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks.

Some might be surprised by this move from the Hurricanes, but as reported in Tuesday’s Raleigh News & Observer, GM Jim Rutherford was concerned about his depth at forward as Justin Williams is out indefinitely with a knee injury and Matt Cullen is slow recovering from a concussion.

This move also fits financially, for by claiming Samsonov off waivers the Hurricanes are only on the hook for half of his remaining salary. He’s earning $3.525 million this season and the Blackhawks have already paid half of that, meaning the Hurricanes will only have to pick up over $800K with the ‘Hawks taking on the rest.

As previously noted on this blog Samsonov’s game has been in decline over the past two seasons so this could be his last opportunity to prove he still belongs in the NHL.

The Chicago Blackhawks have placed winger Sergei Samsonov on re-entry waivers only two days after he cleared waivers on Saturday, December 31st.

Any team claiming Samsonov would only have to pick up half of his remaining contract. He's presently in the final year of his contract paying him $3.525 million, but as the season is nearly half over, any team claiming him would only pick up around $880,000.00.

That's a bargain but at this point picking him off re-entry waivers is a gamble. As I noted when Samsonov was placed on waivers late last week his play has deteriorated significantly since the 2005-06 season.

We'll know by Thursday if there's been any takers, and if not what the Blackhawks plans are for him.

**UPDATE** Samsonov cleared re-entry waivers as of noon Eastern on January 2nd. Looks like that aforementioned bargain price for his salary wasn't enough to entice a rival general manager into claiming him, which is a clear indication of just how far his stock has fallen.