Samoskevich Getting His Best Shot with the Florida Panthers

FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers have a lot of faith in rookie Mackie Samoskevich.

Now playing on the second line with Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk, Samoskevich has 16 shots on goal in his past four games.

Yet he has not scored in 14 games, a stretch that has lasted all of 2025.

Just wait.

It’s coming.

“His curve has been very steep, his improvement has been quite drastic,’’ Paul Maurice said. “He is quite a bit further ahead this year than I would have thought him to be. … He needed a year of pro. He is a much different player than he was a year ago. Credit to him and the work he has put in.’’

Samoskevich made his NHL debut with the Panthers last season but only played seven games with Florida, spending much of the year with AHL Charlotte.

Coming out of camp, the Panthers thought about starting Samoskevich in the top-6, but he ended up playing most of this season in the bottom-6.

Maurice, much like his teammates, were impressed not only with the offensive skill they knew he possessed, but for his play away from the puck, his intensity going into the corners.

Now that he is playing up with the heavy hitters of Florida’s offensive punch, Samoskevich is getting the chance to shine.

The goals have not come, no.

But you can see and feel that dam about to break.

“The mindset is that I am getting the chances so it is only a matter of time before they start going in,’’ said Samoskevich, who has seven goals and 16 points in 47 games this season.

“I could dial some things in, make the chances go up, but the fact I am getting them is everything. If I was not getting them, it would be a different story.”

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Maurice, who admitted he was “playing with his food’’ when it came to seeing what worked on his forwards lines, says he really likes the way Bennett and Samoskevich work.

Everyone knows how Bennett and Tkachuk mesh, and, when the three were put together, Samoskevich stayed on the right side with Tkachuk switching to the left where he has been with Sasha Barkov and Sam Reinhart.

“There’s a chemistry between Bennett and Samoskevich that I saw right from the start,’’ Maurice said. “They both skate, they both make plays. There’s something there. There’s something there and I am not in a hurry to move that one. We’ll let that one run a while, and, almost have to see it run through some rough spots. I like the way it structures the group.’’

During Wednesday’s win against the Kings, Samoskevich was moved to the left side of the line with Tkachuk returned to the right.

Although Samoskevich has not played on the left side of a line much before and shoots right, he says he likes the different nuances of it.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a difference aside from the breakouts,’’ Samoskevich said. “And, I’m going to be on my forehand, so it might even be better for me.’’

And, really, who is going to argue with playing on a line with Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk?

Not Mackie Samoskevich.

“It’s a lot of fun, yeah, I am enjoying it,” he said. “They are such good players. We are playing against some of the other team’s best most nights, and the best defense is our offense. If we can play in their end for a lot of it, that’s great. But on the other side, our transition is good. They are both so good at finding me.’’

ON DECK: GAME No. 53

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS at FLORIDA PANTHERS 

• When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
• Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
• National TV: ABC
• National Streaming: ESPN+/Hulu
• Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• Last Season: Tied 1-1
• This Season (Blackhawks Lead 1-0) — At Florida: Saturday. At Chicago: Blackhawks 3, Panthers 1 (Nov. 21).
• All-time Regular Season Series: Blackhawks lead 30-19-4, 3 ties
• Up Next for the Panthers: Sunday vs. New York Islanders, 6 (Local TV)