Samoskevich on Panthers: 'I think I'll fit into their lineup one day'

The Panthers look to have scored another steal in Round 1 of the 2021 NHL Draft on Friday.
Picking outside of the top-15 for the first time since 2016 thanks to a resurgent 2020-21 campaign, the Panthers still managed to inject a large amount of offensive skill into their growing pipeline by using the 24th overall selection in the draft to scoop up a dynamic playmaker in Matthew "Mackie" Samoskevich.

According to EliteProspects.com, Samoskevich was the 19th best player in this year's class.
"He was a player that we had targeted for quite some time," Panthers general manager Bill Zito, grinning ear to ear, said of the pick. "Our scouts were really, really bullish on Mackie both as a player and person. They spent a lot of time really doing a deep dive into him as a player. We're really excited."
In his assessment of the pick, The Athletic's Scott Wheeler, who listed the Panthers among his group of winners in Round 1, described Samoskevich as "one of the best skaters and puck handlers in the draft."
"I'm super excited," Samoskevich said of being drafted. "Florida is such a great spot. I watched them a ton during the year. It's definitely a fun team to watch and a team I'm looking forward to playing for."
In his meetings with the Panthers leading up to the draft (all done through Zoom, of course), Samoskevich said he thinks he "gelled pretty well" with the team's hockey operations staff.
"They're such great people there," Samoskevich said. "All the interviews went really well."
Showing off his high offensive upside, Samoskevich was able to get a good amount of games under his belt this season in the USHL despite numerous leagues around the world having to drastically shorten or even cancel entire campaigns due to the various limitations presented by ongoing COVID-19 protocols.
A point-per-game player during his second full season with the Steel, the gifted 18-year-old forward amassed 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists) in 36 regular-season contests. Carrying that hot stick into the playoffs, he then added one goal and nine assists in eight games to help Chicago claim the Clark Cup.
"I think the biggest thing in Chicago was that they were all about development and developing players, especially as people," Samoskevich said. "I think that's why it was such a special place. We just kept learning and learning about so many different things and were just able to grow so much for two years."
Not the only hockey star in his family, Samoskevich's older sister, Melissa, won a gold medal with the U.S. Women's National Team at the 2019 World Championship after spending four years at Quinnipiac University while his twin sister, Maddie, following in Melissa's footsteps, currently plays for the Bobcats.
Growing up, Samoskevich didn't just see his sisters as family, but also as teammates and role models.
"They were my best friends," Samoskevich said with a smile. "I'm extremely lucky to have them. Both of them played at a pretty high level with boys hockey at a young age, especially my older sister Melissa. … It was nice to see at a young age what her habits were like and what she was doing on a daily basis."
A native of Newtown, Connecticut, Samoskevich played prep school hockey at the storied Shattuck-St. Mary's program in Minnesota. With a long and proud history of churning out top-tier talent, some of the school's more notable alumni in the NHL are Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Toews.
Taking his talents to another illustrious program this upcoming season, Samoskevich is committed to the University of Michigan and will arrive to campus as a freshman in the fall. With five Wolverines taken in the first round in this year's draft - including top pick Owen Power - Zito, who bookended his praise of the school by chuckling that he was a "Wisconsin guy," believes it's a perfect place for him to develop.
"It's certainly a huge bonus," Zito said of Samoskevich's path. "You know he's going to be playing against [tough competition]. Pursuing education is part of the discipline of the daily rigor that you undergo as a student athlete. I know he's going to get excellent coaching. Everything is great. It's a big positive."
Eager to chase down a national championship, Samoskevich can't wait to kick off his collegiate career.
"I'm excited to get things going there," Samoskevich said. "It should be a special year. Michigan is filled with a ton of special people as well. I'm definitely looking forward to it, for sure."
With his first-round selection serving as somewhat of a coming out party, Samoskevich will now have a chance to continue building up his national profile when he hits the ice with Team USA at the 2021 World Junior Summer Showcase from July 24-31 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.
An evaluation camp for the World Junior Championship, he is one of just 44 invitees.
"You're just trying to show the coaching staff that you're a guy that should be on the team," Samoskevich said of the camp. "You're just trying to prove to them that you should be picked. That's one goal coming into this week, for sure. For the games, winning is a big thing of mine. I always try to win. Whether it's something small or even if it's not involving a trophy or anything, I'm always trying to win."
While his career with the Panthers is only just beginning, Samoskevich is already dreaming about winning games in South Florida.
"I think I'll fit right into their lineup one day," Samoskevich said. "I think my game will translate. I love to play the game with speed."