The Florida Panthers selected right win Mackie Samoskevich of the USHL Chicago Steel with their first round pick (24th overall) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
In his draft year and second season with the Steel, Samoskevich put up 13 goals and 24 assists in 36 games. He recorded one goal and nine assists in eight games during the Clark Cup playoffs.
Samoskevich is committed to play for the Michigan Wolverines during the 2021–22 season.
Here’s what EliteProspects had to say about Steel:
He’ll blend pass receptions into highly creative dangles around defenders, with top-hand control of his stick pushed out from his body, and quick-twitch wrists to string it all together. He manages space exceptionally well, constantly scanning for the positions of his teammates and opponents alike. And he uses that mental map of the ice to plan his every manoeuvre one or two plays ahead of the competition. – EliteProspects 2021 NHL Draft Guide
In another piece of huge news, the Panthers have reportedly acquired Buffalo Sabres center Sam Reinhart.
The Sabres have traded right winger Sam Reinhart to the Panthers, a source confirmed to The Athletic. pic.twitter.com/UgrNbDqp4I
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) July 24, 2021
Buffalo is getting Florida’s first-rounder in next year’s draft, unless the pick is in the top ten, then it will be in the 2023 Draft and goalie prospect Devon Levi, who turned heads with his performance at the 2021 World Junior Championship.
After the trade, the Panthers now have three of the top four picks from the 2014 draft on the roster.
Reinhart, a restricted free agent, scored 25 goals and added 15 assists in 54 games in 2020-21.