can you operate a printer off of a Samsung Chrome computer?

Do you mean direct USB or on the network, either wired or wifi?

Networked, I believe chromebooks support CUPS which is a standard printing queuing protocol.  I think before you had to do a Google Print and configure the printer as a legacy Cloud Print device.

As far as USB, they claim it works, but it would be better to just use a wifi/usb printer server adapter.

only if the printer supports Android printing.