Mackie Samoskevich Is Full Participant In Practice Again

For the first time this preseason, Mackie Samoskevich is a full participant with the Florida Panthers’ main practice groups.

The 21-year-old forward had been skating off to the side since camp started with what Panthers head coach Paul Maurice called a “minor” upper-body injury. He took rushes with the third line next to Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell on Tuesday, but even when he skated with teammates, Samoskevich wore a yellow non-contact jersey.

But on Wednesday morning, Samoskevich joined the main group at the Baptist Health IcePlex in downtown Ft. Lauderdale, ditching the yellow jersey for the first time this year. 

Maurice told the media during Wednesday’s morning skate that Samoskevich would be in the lineup with Luostarinen and Lundell in Florida’s preseason finale on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings in Quebec City. He added that the winger is catching up on timing and touch, but that he might feel less beat up than the other players as they enter the third and final block of Maurice’s famously-tough training camp.

“We’re just turning the corner on it,” Maurice said. “Hips and groins, they’re starting to feel good. So he feels fresh. He gets back, he’s been rehabbed. He should have lots of energy in that game.”

While Samoskevich was out, new offseason signee Jesper Boqvist played on that line in practice at times and in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes on September 28. Maurice said both players will see time at that spot this year. 

Samoskevich has been one of the Panthers top prospects since being drafted 24th overall in 2021. He made his NHL debut on opening night last year against the Minnesota Wild and played seven games in two stints in October and January. Although he didn’t record any points, he flashed the speed and hands that experts raved about in his amateur and minor league career.

“You you come in, you’re a young guy, there’s a lot to learn,” Maurice said of Samoskevich’s two stints in the NHL last year. “And when he came back up, he had a way better understanding of the pro game, where you can create time when there’s no time at all, which is so much of what the amateur game doesn’t prepare you for, is the size and the speed, gap closure on you.”

Maurice added that the Connecticut native looks faster and more powerful this year.

In 62 games with the Charlotte Checkers last year, the Panthers minor league affiliate, Samoskevich led the team with 22 goals and 54 points.