Kraken aquire Samoskevich from Panthers for draft picks
A young winger is moving across the country.
On Sunday, the Seattle Torrent acquired Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers. In exchange, the Panthers are receiving a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a conditional 2027 second-round pick.
We have acquired Tampa Bay’s 2026 first-round selection (previously acquired by Seattle) and a 2027 second-round selection (conditional) from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for forward Mackie Samoskevich. Details » flapanthers.co/trade6-21-26
The Kraken still have work to do in order to make sure Samoskevich is in the lineup this fall. Samoskevich is a restricted free agent after his latest one-year contract with the Panthers, which saw the Connecticut native make $775,000.
The first-round pick this year originally belonged to the Tampa Bay Lightning, but it was sent to Seattle in a three-team trade in March 2025, with the Lightning receiving Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand. The condition on the 2027 pick is that it will be the higher pick between the Winnipeg Jets and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Samoskevich had been with the Panthers since the team took him in the first round, 24th overall, of the 2021 NHL Draft. After making his NHL debut during the 2023-24 season, he became a regular in the lineup the following year, and proved to be a solid secondary scorer on a team filled with superstars in captain Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe. He posted 31 points during the 2024-25 campaign, appearing in four postseason games as the Panthers went on to win the team’s second Stanley Cup in a row.
The former Michigan Wolverine had similar production this past season. While the team wasn’t as good, missing out on the postseason for the first time in seven years, Samoskevich potted 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points. In 156 career regular-season games, Samoskevich has scored 27 goals and 36 assists for 63 points.
With the trade, the Panthers now have two picks in the first round next weekend, and two second-round selections in 2027. The Kraken now have just their own picks in the first round this year and the second round next summer.