The Panthers have re-signed restricted free agent winger Mackie Samoskevich to a one-year contract, per a press release from the team. It is a league minimum, one-way contract, according to PuckPedia.
Samoskevich was ineligible to sign an offer sheet as a 10.2(c) player with less than three years of professional experience after signing their entry-level contract at age 20. The Connecticut-born forward will now look to cash in as an RFA again next summer after what he hopes will be a step forward in 2025-26.
The 24th overall pick of the 2021 draft, Samoskevich was a full-time roster player last season after spending most of his first professional campaign in 2023-24 between the Panthers and AHL Charlotte. He finished 11th in Calder Trophy voting for Rookie of the Year, finishing ninth on Florida in scoring with 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) in 72 games.
Samoskevich was a lineup fixture later in the regular season, particularly as a top-six replacement for the injured Matthew Tkachuk down the stretch. However, the return of Tkachuk and Brad Marchand to the lineup in the postseason meant he saw just four games of playoff action in Florida’s second straight Stanley Cup championship, as he was passed over for fourth-line duties in favor of more experienced players like Jesper Boqvist, Jonah Gadjovich, and A.J. Greer.
While it may be surprising to see Samoskevich settle for such a cheap deal after a strong regular season, he had virtually no leverage in negotiations thanks to his 10.2(c) status. With Florida over the salary cap, they were presumably only willing to sign him to a one-year, league minimum deal to give him a chance to earn more in talks in 2026. While his NHL salary is cheaper than his qualifying offer afforded him, it does guarantee his full salary, something a two-way QO would not have done.
The 22-year-old’s deal was the last pressing piece of business for the Cats – they still have a few unsigned RFAs in the organization, but they’re all destined for waivers in the fall if they re-sign. Now, general manager Bill Zito’s focus can be fully on getting the two-time defending champs cap-compliant for opening night.
Florida is $3.725MM over the upper limit with a full 23-player roster after signing Samoskevich, according to PuckPedia. They could kick the can down the road using long-term injured reserve if a player with a cap hit greater than $3.725MM won’t be ready to start the season, or they can offload a salary via trade.
Versatile top-nine forward Evan Rodrigues, who carries a $3MM cap hit for two more seasons, has been an oft-speculated candidate. Samoskevich could realistically replace his role outright, too.
But just clearing Rodrigues won’t open enough space for Florida – they’d have to waive a player as well, likely a depth forward like Gadjovich, Greer, or Tomas Nosek – and operate with just one extra skater to finish the job. Notably, Samoskevich is no longer exempt from waivers, so the Panthers would need to expose him to the wire to send him to the minors, a highly improbable outcome.
Image courtesy of Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images.
guy didn’t even play in the playoffs and was still a 22 year old 30pt scorer who is only going to get better.. muahahahah
PS… they have enough cap space to go after Connor McDavid next summer too… just putting that out there lol
So I was wrong to doubt Zito’s ability to bring back the big 3 but you are very conveniently leaving out the fact that their cap space next year doesn’t include Bob. Pretty certain they will be interested in bringing him back albeit on a short deal and potentially even at a discount to current AAV.
they have around 34 mill in cap space for 2026…. bob will be 5-7 of that…. leaving them with around 25 (plus whatever jump in cap occurs with the new CBA) to sign a few minimum deals, mackie will get a raise… then enough to sign multiple all-stars if they want to use that cap space (which I am sure they will)…. as I’ve said many times… Zito is a mad genius and the NHL should be terrified.
@jeremyn – FLA only has $23.125MM in space for 2026-27 with a projected upper limit of $104MM. I’m not sure where you’re getting the number in the $30MM range. That’s also with only a roster size of 14, so there are several spots to fill, although all of them are depth players outside of Bobrovsky and Mikkola.
@jeremyn – You’re such an habitual liar, its ridiculous (it’s non-stop) but you’re also highly misinformed and rather delusional. For starters, Florida will only have a little over $23M next season (per PuckPedia) not $34M (you pulled that imaginary number out of your rear, not surprised). I could go on but you’re so delirious in what you ramble all the time.
1) the number came from the panthers social media the day marchand signed.. its possibly they didn’t calculate him in 2) it’s still the lightning in 7 and u never tried to bet me on it right? The panthers are “done” .. right? Lol… all that being said that still gives them the $$$ to go after McDavid
@feel the teardrops is so butt hurt that the Panthers are the pre eminent team in the league and not his Lightning. It is so ironic that he talks about others rambling on endlessly but certainly doesn’t consider his drivel in the same light. It is going to be interesting and entertaining to laugh at and mock his numerous rants that are sure to come as a result of the Panthers success in the coming years.
That might have been the biggest “pot meet kettle” comment I’ve ever seen from him lol.
@jdgoat not sure if you meant me or the troll but he called me a “liar” because during the lightning panthers series he offered to bet me the lightning would win.. and when they were down 3-1 to the panthers he said the lightning would win in 7… he denies saying any of it now lol
PS… the over the cap issue will be resolved by Tkachuk having surgery and going on LTIR… they will need to make hard choices when he’s healthy though.
I’d imagine they could move Boqvist along with Rodriquez to get cap compliant and still have 12 forwards on opening night. Good to be the Panthers.
Again.. Tkachuk is going to have surgery…. quote me on it
Well, that’s another avenue they can travel down……
Like I said.. quote me on it… if I’m wrong I won’t deny I said it like others on this post lol
Good! Good! Mwahaha!!!!
Somebody should throw an offer sheet at this guy next year.