The Florida Panthers are set to begin the upcoming season as defending Stanley Cup champions for the first time in the franchise’s history, aiming to replicate last season’s success.
Over the summer, the team held a development camp for its prospects. Notably absent from the roster was forward Mackie Samoskevich, the Panthers’ 24th overall pick in 2021. He saw some NHL action last season, participating in seven games, but this year he aims to join the main roster full-time. His omission from the development camp indicates that the team believes he is ready to advance in his career.
Samoskevich Shined in the AHL Most of Samoskevich’s 2023-24 season was spent with the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL), where he performed exceptionally well. He tallied 22 goals and 32 assists in 62 regular-season games and played in three playoff games, although he did not register any points during that time.
During his time in Charlotte, Samoskevich accumulated 56 points (22 goals and 34 assists) in 64 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he contributed four assists across 10 games.
Samoskevich Excelled as a Wolverine As a student-athlete at the University of Michigan, Samoskevich stood out, which is why he was drafted so highly. In his freshman year (2021-22), he scored 10 goals and added 19 assists in 40 games. His team won the Big Ten tournament that season but was eliminated in the NCAA semifinals by Denver.
The following season, Samoskevich had an even more impressive performance. As a sophomore, he netted 20 goals and tallied 23 assists in one fewer game than the previous season, finishing with 39 games played. His season ended similarly to the last, with a Big Ten championship but a loss in the national tournament semifinals, this time against Quinnipiac, who went on to win the title. During his time in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he accumulated a total of 62 points in 79 games.
Will Samoskevich Secure a Spot on the Roster for 2024-25? While there are promising players like Samoskevich in development, general manager Bill Zito was active during free agency. He signed Jesper Boqvist, A.J. Greer, and Tomas Nosek for the bottom six, and Jonah Gadjovich is anticipated to fill the role of the extra forward in the lineup.
It appears that the only chance he has to make the main lineup is if there are injuries or if head coach Paul Maurice chooses to rest starters towards the end of the season. However, even then, it’s not guaranteed that top players will sit unless the team is in a secure playoff position. He certainly deserves a spot on the Panthers roster for 2024-25, but the crowded roster could hinder that possibility.
Samoskevich Needs to Progress Within the Organization Samoskevich has an impressive resume as a potential NHL forward and has gained valuable experience at that level. The organization must support him in advancing his development and finding more opportunities for playing time.
He has the potential to become a major star for the team, and delaying his integration into the lineup could prove to be a significant error in the long run. If they don’t act, it could turn into another Owen Tippett situation for the front office.
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