The Florida Panthers have selected Mackie Samoskevich with the 24th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Mackie Samoskevich
Samoskevich, 18, played for the Chicago Steel of the USHL last season. As assistant captain, Mackie recorded 37 points in 36 games last season. Although now a Panther prospect, he is committed to the University of Michigan and will be playing there next season.
The Connecticut-born player stands 5’11” tall and weighs 190 pounds. With a smaller frame, it is believed Samoskevich will need to put on some size to be strong at the next level. However, he possesses great talent that could prove doubters wrong. Ranked 26th among North American skaters, Mackie is a bit of a surprise pick. Although the odds seem to be stacked against him, Samoskevich can prove his worth in Sunrise.
GM Bill Zito on Samoskevich: “He was a player that we had targeted for quite some time. Our scouts were really, really bullish on Mackie both as a player and a person. They spent a lot of time really doing a deep dive into him as a player. We’re really excited.”