Kraken Lock Up Mackie Samoskevich, Take Low-Risk Bet on Top-Six Upside
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Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (11) brings the puck up the ice as Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) defends during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images.JPG [/caption]
After sending a 2027 first round pick to the Florida Panthers on June 21 to acquire the talented forward, the Seattle Kraken signed Mackie Samoskevich to a three-year, $11.55-million deal on Wednesday, securing the restricted free agent through the 2028-29 season.
When the contract expires in the Summer of 2029, Samoskevich will still be a restricted free agent, giving Seattle additional club control. While the 24th overall pick in 2021 hasn’t popped as a star in the NHL yet, signing him for three years at a reasonable cap hit is a good bet on a player of this quality who has contributed for a Stanley Cup champion.
Serving as a key role player for Florida in his first three seasons, Samoskevich should flourish with a greater opportunity with the Kraken next season and might earn a top-six forward role with consistent power play minutes.
Last season, on the injury-riddled Panthers, the 23-year-old put up 12 goals and 32 points in 77 games. He also averaged 14:28 of ice time, up from his 13:19 the prior season. Ideally, he should score more points with more minutes next season. In his last 11 games last season, Samoskevich put up six goals and nine points and averaged over 15-minutes of ice time per-game, a positive sign for his trajectory going to a team that struggled to score all of last season.
“For me, there’s the fact that, at such a young age, he’s been able to win a Stanley Cup already, and he’s been a part of a very successful organization in Florida,” general manager Jason Botterill said on Wednesday. "I just love his age, love his speed, and I love his shot. So, I think he’ll fit in very well with the style of play that we’re trying to play on an everyday basis here.”
Samoskevich is a shoot-first player. At 5-on-5 last season, he put up 7.8 shots on goal, per 60-minutes. That rate would rate second on the Kraken, behind only recently re-signed veteran Bobby McMann. The Kraken finished 25th in 5-on-5 shots on goal last season, per MoneyPuck. Samoskevich’s 12 goals would’ve been tied for sixth on Seattle’s roster, another sign of how difficult of a time the team has putting the puck in the net.
Samoskevich also drew 62 penalty minutes last season, which easily clears Kraken team leader Matty Beniers at 43. The Kraken drew 559 penalty minutes last season, third-worst in the NHL.
Assuming McMann, who brings a similar blend of skating and shooting to the ice, joins Beniers on the top line, Samoskevich is likely centered by Chandler Stephenson on the second line next season. Under head coach Lane Lambert, Stephenson had 33 assists in 2026-27, his lowest total since 2021-22.
Perhaps a pace-oriented, shot-first winger could lead to a bounce back? Count Botterill as one who believes that could easily be the case given his skill set and remaining upside.
“He’s going to fit in with the Lane [Lambert] system,” Botterill remarked. “I think it fits in with our 23-and-under group there very well.”
Considering the hefty package Seattle gave up to acquire him, including forfeiting the chance to make two first round selections in last week’s NHL Draft, Samoskevich will be given every opportunity to prove himself in the top-six. But it’s a crowded group for the Kraken that still includes McMann, Jared McCann, Jordan Eberle, Kaapo Kakko, and Berkly Catton.
With so many capable players vying for ice time, including a former first round selection in Catton, Samoskevich will still need to prove himself amongst that group at training camp if he hopes to secure a larger role than he had with the Panthers. However, Botterill did say that the Kraken may not be done improving the roster either, which could mean dealing one of those wingers in coming days to try to fortify another area on the roster for the upcoming season.
“We'll continue to be aggressive and [try] to find ways of improving our team,” Botterill commented. “And going after players via trade, or whatever it might be, to help our group.”
If that does happen, there will be a little less congestion in the forward group for Seattle, which would improve Samoskevich’s odds of seeing a dramatic increase in ice time and setting the stage for a breakout, which would make the move to trade for him a shrewd one for the franchise.
