Samsonov regrets signing with Canadiens

It's been a season of disappointments for the Montreal Canadiens, especially for Sergei Samsonov.

The high-priced Russian forward, who was a healthy scratch for the sixth time on Saturday, pulled no punches this weekend saying he regretted signing with the team last summer.

"I've been blamed for everything that has gone wrong. Why stop now?" Samsonov told the Gazette.

"Obviously, looking back, I regret my decision (to sign with the Canadiens). All you can do is make things different and learn from your mistakes. Things could have been done and handled differently."

After a 53-point season last year with Boston and Edmonton, Samsonov signed to a two-year, $7.05 million contract with the Canadiens in July. He is arguably the biggest free agent bust from last summer, scoring just nine goals and 26 points this season. Head coach Guy Carbonneau tried to light a spark under the former first-round pick like scratching him out of the lineup and shuffling him between all four lines.

The Canadiens placed him on waivers on Feb. 7 and also tried to trade him to one of 10 preferable teams indicated on his contract.

"I need a different, a fresh start," Samsonov told the Gazette.

"I'm looking forward to that. This hasn't worked out the way I expected, but life goes on. I thought this was going to be a better fit, because of the guys in the lineup and the way management portrayed things. But it was never meant to be."

The 28-year-old has one more year remaining on his contract that will pay him $3.525 million next season.