As he adjusts to bigger Panthers role, Samoskevich is playing with just about everyone
Mackie Samoskevich already envisioned playing a larger role going into his second full season with the Florida Panthers.
But that need for Samoskevich to have heightened responsibility became even more apparent when the Panthers lost captain Aleksander Barkov to an ACL and MCL injury in training camp that required surgery and has him out seven to nine months. That’s in addition to already being without star winger Matthew Tkachuk for multiple months after he had offseason surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia.
“When [Barkov] goes out, you feel like you have to move the whole world to get better,” Samoskevich said. “But I think at the end of the day, you just got to keep doing what you’re doing and try not to change too much. Obviously, everyone kind of elevates when one guys like that goes down. They’re pretty good at putting pucks in the net. So I think that’s one thing everyone’s got to step up and do. I think the game’s right. I think we’ve just got to bear down a little bit and keep working at our craft.”
So far so good for Samoskevich.
Entering the Panthers’ game Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, one that starts a four-game homestand at Amerant Bank Arena, Samoskevich has two goals and two assists in eight games played.
His four points are tied for third on the team, and he’s also among the top four on the Panthers in shots on goal (23, second), total shot attempts (41, third) and scoring chances (22, fourth).
“He’s been great,” center Sam Bennett said. “He’s looked really good. He’s looked really fast every game. It’s still a little tough with different lines every night, trying to find the pairings at work, but he’s done a great job. I think whoever he’s played with has had a good game. He’s generated a lot of offense, a lot of chances.”
And doing it with a lot of opportunities to play with a lot of different players.
At 5-on-5, Samoskevich primarily plays as the right wing on Florida’s third line with Jesper Boqvist at left wing and Evan Rodrigues at center.
He also is on Florida’s new-look top power-play unit that includes Anton Lundell, Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart.
Add in his experience playing with Bennett last season, and Samoskevich is getting reps or has valuable experience with six of the other eight players who make up Florida’s top three forward lines.
“That’s huge,” Samoskevich said. “I think that’s why we’re so good is we can play with everybody. I’m getting touches with everybody, knowing what everyone likes to do and what their strengths are. As a young guy, it’s definitely important to kind of get that experience early on. I feel like I can play with any of them.”
As the season goes on, he very well might. Samoskevich has improved his game enough from his rookie year, one in which he scored 15 goals and had 31 points, to where coach Paul Maurice feels comfortable rolling him out in bigger situations. He’s a powerful right-handed shot with speed down the ice.
“He’s on the puck all the time, great on the forecheck, hunting it around, uses his quickness and his ability to play with the puck to his advantage,” said defenseman Seth Jones, who quarterbacks the new top power-play group. “He’s hungry around the net. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s strong, and he knows how to use his body and get to the paint. He’s physical at times when he needs to be as well. He’s been a great presence for us every time he’s on the ice. He’s noticeable.”
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