The Seattle Kraken made a move to strengthen their forward corps on Sunday, trading for right-shot winger Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers in a deal involving two draft picks timed just before this week’s NHL Draft.
In return for Samoskevich, Florida received the No. 25 overall pick in the 2026 draft — a selection Seattle had previously obtained from the Tampa Bay Lightning — along with a conditional second-round pick in 2027. That second-rounder will be whichever pick is ranked higher between the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets selections Seattle had previously acquired.
At 23 years old, Samoskevich gives the Kraken a forward with notable speed and offensive potential, qualities that general manager Jason Botterill has been actively pursuing. During the 2024-25 season with Florida, he posted 12 goals and 20 assists across 77 games, establishing new career bests in assists, total points, and games played.
A native of Newtown, Connecticut, Samoskevich was Florida’s first-round pick — No. 24 overall — in the 2021 NHL Draft. He was a member of the Panthers’ Stanley Cup championship roster in 2025 and has totaled 27 goals and 36 assists over 156 regular-season games, all spent with Florida. He also contributed one assist in four playoff appearances.
Botterill spoke highly of what the young winger brings to Seattle. “For me, there’s the fact that, at such a young age, he’s been able to win a Stanley Cup already, and he’s been a part of a very successful organization in Florida,” Botterill said. “I just love his age, love his speed and I love his shot. So, I think he’ll fit in very well with the style of play that we’re trying to play on an everyday basis here.”
The acquisition also comes with a built-in locker room connection. Samoskevich and Kraken center Matty Beniers were teammates at the University of Michigan during the 2021-22 season.
With Samoskevich set to become a restricted free agent on July 1, Seattle will need to work out a new contract with him. For Florida, the deal brings in another first-round pick as the organization looks to rebuild after missing the playoffs this past season — a sharp contrast to their back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in the two prior years.
