Skip to main content
Florida Panthers On SI

Florida Panthers trade of Samoskevich could signal something bigger

The young forward goes, but now draft capital comes in
Ethan J. Skolnick|
Apr 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (11) looks on against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Alberti-Imagn Images
Apr 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (11) looks on against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Alberti-Imagn Images | Mark Alberti-Imagn Images

During his tenure as Florida Panthers general manager, Bill Zito has proven to be the master of the move before the move.

So perhaps the trade of 23-year-old forward Mackie Samoskevich to the Seattle Kraken on Sunday, after he produced 32 points in 77 games, is simply about adding another prospect in the upcoming NHL Draft. (The Panthers were already slated to pick 9th, and now will also select 25th thanks to the Kraken, with three second-round selections as well.).

The Panthers now have four of the top 48 picks in Friday's draft.

Or perhaps the trade, which also netted a conditional second-round choice next season -- from either Colorado or Winnipeg -- is setting up for something more significant.

After all, the Panthers will be returning their veteran core next season, with Sasha Barkov looking spectacular this offseason after missing last season with a knee injury. They are trying to win now, not later, and that is the case even if they can't come to an agreement with free agent goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Samoskevich, while skilled, didn't necessarily fit the timeline, especially with restricted free agent status coming.

This creates more of a pick stash while also clearing some possible cap space.

So what could be brewing?

Could there be a run at Dylan Larkin, the Detroit Red Wings forward coming off a 33 goal season? Larkin has actually scored 194 goals in the past five seasons, and would immediately slot onto one of the Panthers' top two lines. And there are reports that he would be comfortable playing for the Panthers.

Or could Zito fill the goaltender hole with Connor Hellebuyck, the Winnipeg Jets stalwart who is known to be disgruntled and believed to be available? He has a 2.58 career goals-against-average in 625 games -- and at 33 years old, has more time left than Bobrovsky?

Either way, it's hard to see Zito using all the picks and just stashing players in the system for some season way down the road. Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand are all ready to win again now for coach Paul Maurice, as the Panthers try to rebound from a disappointing year that followed two Stanley Cup titles. Injuries were the major reason, and now those players have been declared healthy.

Florida will be the center of the hockey universe this week again, not because the Panthers may be hoisting anything, but because they could be trading for plenty.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Published | Modified
Ethan J. Skolnick
ETHAN J. SKOLNICK

Ethan is the CEO of Five Reasons Sports Network, based in South Florida and manages the OnSI sites for the Florida Panthers, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks. Previously, he wrote for all the major newspapers in South Florida as well as Bleacher Report, and was an afternoon drive radio host. He has a B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University and an M.S. from Columbia University.

Home/News