Mackie Samoskevich Has Found His Groove With the Florida Panthers
Mackie Samoskevich has looked more and more comfortable at the NHL level, and it has earned him a very big opportunity.
Mackie Samoskevich has officially arrived at the NHL level.
Ever since scoring his first NHL goal on Oct. 26, the 21-year-old forward has five goals and eight points in 13 games.
For those counting at home, Samoskevich ranks sixth in points, third in goals and second in plus/minus (+5) among rookies in that span.
In that time, even while being a healthy scratch at times, Samoskevich has found his footing at the NHL level, flashing elite levels of speed and tenacity on the forecheck while earning a spot on the top power play unit.
“He’s playing unbelievable,” Carter Verhaeghe said. “He’s so fast, he’s so quick and he’s so elusive out there. Just watching his talent level, his shot, he has all the tools to be a really good NHL player. I just see him grow every day and progress throughout the years, too, so it’s exciting.”
Samoskevich has had quite the ride at 5-on-5 — he has been bouncing back and forth between lines 3. 4 and the occasional healthy, with his latest ‘demotion’ to the fourth line coming on the heels of Anton Lundell needing Jesper Boqvist’s added vision on the defensive end after a puck to the face caused him to need to wear a fishbowl visor.
For most young players, a spot on the fourth line could be detrimental, but Samoskevich’s speed and tenacity has allowed him to blend in next to Tomas Nosek and A.J. Greer while adding an extra element of offense.
The Panthers found a way to give him more minutes on the power play, and he has seemingly earned the right to stay in the lineup.
He already rewarded them for their confidence in him with a goal and an assist in the three games he has been on the top power play unit.
“His energy, how fast he is and how skilled he is,” Aleksander Barkov said. “It’s great. He is getting better every day and it is fun to see how hard he works for it. I’d love to have his legs at some point, but it’s fun to watch.”
But he earned that opportunity by doing more than just scoring.
Samoskevich earned it by maturing into a player who is much sturdier in his own end — he is learning when to dump the puck in and wait for help on the forecheck, he is stronger on the puck and he has picked up a knack for forcing turnovers in transition.
“I think he has made consistent improvements in his game and the gap between his good and his worst is closing,” coach Paul Maurice said. “There is not as much aberration in his game — and it’s not the goal-scoring, it’s all the other parts of it.”
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