Michigan forward Mackie Samoskevich Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Panthers sign 2021 first-round pick to entry-level deal

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Mike Gould | Last updated 5/8/23

The Florida Panthers signed top forward prospect Mackie Samoskevich to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced Monday morning.

Samoskevich, 20, scored 20 goals and 43 points in 39 NCAA games at the University of Michigan during the 2022–23 collegiate season.

The Panthers originally selected Samoskevich in the first round (No. 24 overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. He joined the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers on a tryout deal upon the conclusion of his sophomore season at Michigan.

Samoskevich’s exclusive draft signing rights with the Panthers were set to expire on Aug. 15, 2025.

Officially official ✍️

We have agreed to terms with our 2021 first-round draft pick Mackie Samoskevich on a three-year, entry-level contract!

» https://t.co/6ugMnVw63l pic.twitter.com/oGflmq6j8N
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 8, 2023

The Panthers drafted Samoskevich out of the top-rated Chicago Steel USHL program. Samoskevich scored 13 goals and 37 points in 36 games with a loaded Steel team in the 2020–21 USHL season.

The 5-foot-11 right wing played his freshman season with the Michigan Wolverines in 2021–22, collecting 10 goals and 29 points in 40 games to tie for seventh in team scoring. He finished behind only Adam Fantilli and Luke Hughes on the Michigan scoring leaderboard in 2022–23.

Samoskevich is the crown jewel of an otherwise shallow Panthers prospect pool, made more troubling by the club’s lack of a first-round draft pick until 2026. Other notable Panthers prospects include Michael Benning, Grigori Denisenko and Ryan McAllister.

The Panthers have now signed two members of their 2021 NHL Draft class: Samoskevich and second-round pick Evan Nause. They have until at least June 1, 2023, to sign their other four selections: Vladislav Lukashevich, Kirill Gerasimyuk, Jakub Kos and Braden Hache.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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