Panthers’ Mackie Samoskevich learned a lot as a rookie. He’s primed for a bigger role
Mackie Samoskevich took a lot away from his rookie season.
The Florida Panthers’ winger with a deadly shot and high-end offensive instincts showcased his strengths during his first full NHL season. His 15 goals were tied for eighth among all rookies in 2024-25, and his 31 points ranked 11th among newcomers.
The 22-year-old earned the trust of the Panthers’ coaching staff to finish the season playing a top-six forward role and getting an extended look on Florida’s power play. However, he only played in four playoff games once Florida returned to full strength and coach Paul Maurice was able to maximize his full roster on its way to a second consecutive Stanley Cup.
Year 2 looks to have more in store for Samoskevich.
The Panthers are without two key forwards in captain and top-line center Aleksander Barkov plus star winger Matthew Tkachuk. Barkov is out at least seven to nine months after undergoing surgery last week to repair the ACL and MCL in his right knee. Tkachuk is sidelined until at least December and likely longer while rehabbing from offseason surgery for a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia. That opens the door for Samoskevich to get more playing time and bigger opportunities this season.
Before Florida’s forward lines were thrown in flux following Barkov’s injury, Samoskevich was getting looks on what projected to be the Panthers’ second line with Evan Rodrigues at left wing and Sam Bennett at center. Now, the speedy winger figures to start the season on a line with Rodrigues at center and Jesper Boqvist at left wing, a combination that gives Florida a lot of speed with the puck.
Spots are open as well on the power play. Samoskevich scored four goals and had 11 points on the man advantage last season, with his ability to one-time shots from the left circle proving valuable for Florida.
What is Samoskevich looking forward to most as he builds on a successful rookie year and tries to help the Panthers win a third consecutive Stanley Cup? Here’s what he had to say, in his own words, a week ahead of Florida’s season opener on Oct. 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
What he took away from his rookie season: “It was a long year, great year. My first time going through the whole NHL season was obviously a lot of fun, but there are a lot of things you’ve got to learn as a young guy with preparation and stuff. Obviously preparation is huge, and then little things in the game that so many good players on this team helped me out with. I’m definitely lucky to have had the year I had, and obviously to end it with how we ended, it was unbelievable.”
How much he embraced the opportunity for a heightened role late in the season: “It was a big thing for me to be able to kind of get that opportunity. I thought I did well with it, too. It’s a different game when you’re playing that top-six role. You’re playing the other team’s best players. I learned that pretty quick, and I felt like I did well with it. Obviously there’s more responsibility that comes with it, so I think I’m ready and looking forward to it.”
On learning how to impact a game on nights he doesn’t score: “It’s definitely something I learned. In college, you’re a guy that’s supposed to score. Points kind of get you the next level and get you noticed at all the levels before that, so it’s something you’re kind of conditioned to learn coming up. But once you get here, it’s a whole different game. Obviously scoring helps, but there’s so many other things where you can come off a night where you have zero points and you can still play a good game if you’re doing the right things. It was definitely one thing I learned early on in the year with maybe not scoring every night.”
On getting a taste of the Stanley Cup playoffs and what it takes to be successful in the postseason: “It was a really good experience, honestly. Getting the first couple games were big for me. I think just kind of experiencing the whole thing. It’s a different game for sure. It gets a little quicker, more physical. The couple games that I got, I definitely took a lot from it. And even not being on the ice with the guys, you still experience things with them. You’re in the room and you’re talking with them, and you’re hearing what they’re saying. It’s still pretty valuable.”
On the next steps for his game: “Offensively, I think I’ve got that down. That’s kind of my bread and butter, and my instincts are good there. I think learning on the defensive side is going to be huge for me. Being able to win more battles, so I could get the puck more offensively, I think that’s a big step for me. It’s something I was working on in the summer, so something I’m looking to continue to learn from.”
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