Mackie Samoskevich Bio
Matthew “Mackie” Samoskevich is an American professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 24th overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2025. A right-handed shooter, Samoskevich has also skated for the Seattle Kraken after being traded in 2026. He is recognized for his scoring touch, his quick offensive instincts, and his background as the product of a deeply hockey-oriented family from Connecticut.
After developing in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Chicago Steel and starring at the University of Michigan, Samoskevich turned professional and has continued to build his résumé at the top level. His combination of speed, finish, and poise around the net has marked him as a notable young American forward of his draft class.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Samoskevich was born on November 15, 2002, in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Sandy Hook is a small New England community, and Samoskevich grew up immersed in the sport of ice hockey, with family members who played competitively at both the collegiate and professional levels.
Samoskevich graduated from the local Sandy Hook school just a few months before the tragic 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. He has spoken about his deep connection to the community, and after winning the Stanley Cup in 2025, he brought the trophy to the Sandy Hook Memorial to honor the victims of the tragedy. His upbringing in a tight-knit hockey community helped shape his competitive edge and his love of the game.
Path to Hockey
Before reaching the professional ranks, Samoskevich played junior hockey in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Chicago Steel. During the 2020–21 season, he recorded 13 goals and 24 assists in 36 games, demonstrating both scoring ability and playmaking vision. He added one goal and nine assists in eight Clark Cup playoff games to help lead the Chicago Steel to both the Anderson Cup and the Clark Cup championships that year.
Following his dominant junior season, Samoskevich committed to the University of Michigan, where he played two seasons of NCAA Division I hockey. As a freshman in 2021–22, he posted 26 points on nine goals and 17 assists, earning a spot on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. He returned for a strong sophomore year in 2022–23, finishing second on the Wolverines in goals with 19 and third in points with 40 in 35 games, which earned him a place on the All-Big Ten Second Team. He concluded his collegiate career with 30 goals and 42 assists in 79 games.
Mackie Samoskevich Career
Early Career (2023–2024)
On April 11, 2023, Samoskevich signed a professional tryout contract with the Florida Panthers’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, for the remainder of the 2022–23 AHL season. After the season concluded, the Panthers signed him to a three-year entry-level contract on May 9, 2023.
To begin the 2023–24 NHL season, Samoskevich made a pair of appearances with the Panthers before being assigned back to the Charlotte Checkers to continue his development in the AHL. His time in the minors allowed him to refine his game and adjust to the pace and physicality of professional hockey.
Florida Panthers Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Samoskevich returned to the NHL roster for the start of the 2024–25 season and quickly began to make his mark. On October 17, 2024, he registered his first career NHL point, recording an assist in a 3–2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Less than two weeks later, on October 26, 2024, he scored his first NHL goal, the tying marker in a 6–3 comeback win over the New York Islanders.
He remained a part of the Panthers organization throughout the 2024–25 campaign and was part of the roster that captured the Stanley Cup in 2025. The championship marked the first major professional title of his career and validated his progression from first-round draft pick to NHL contributor.
Seattle Kraken Era (2026–Present)
On July 10, 2025, Samoskevich signed a one-year contract extension worth $775,000 with the Florida Panthers. Then, on June 21, 2026, he was traded to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick and a conditional 2027 second-round pick, beginning a new chapter of his career in the Pacific Northwest.
The move to the Kraken offered Samoskevich a fresh opportunity to expand his role at the NHL level. Joining a rebuilding club gave him a chance to take on more responsibility offensively and to develop into a regular contributor in Seattle’s top-six forward group.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most meaningful moments of Samoskevich’s young career came during his day with the Stanley Cup following the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, when he brought hockey’s most iconic trophy to the Sandy Hook Memorial in Connecticut to honor the victims of the 2012 school shooting. The visit was a deeply personal gesture that connected his professional triumph to the community that shaped him.
Mackie Samoskevich Career Wins
Samoskevich’s résumé of team success is led by the 2025 Stanley Cup championship won as a member of the Florida Panthers. Earlier, he was part of a Chicago Steel squad that captured both the Anderson Cup and the Clark Cup in the USHL during the 2020–21 season. These titles bookend his transition from junior hockey to the NHL and underscore his consistent presence on winning rosters.
Mackie Samoskevich Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Samoskevich family. His older sister, Melissa, is a former professional ice hockey player whose most recent club was the Connecticut Whale of the Premier Hockey Federation. His twin sister, Maddy, played college hockey for the Quinnipiac University Bobcats and was selected by PWHL Vancouver in the 2025 PWHL Draft.
Personal Life
Born and raised in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, Samoskevich remains closely tied to his hometown and its community. He has used moments of personal achievement, including his Stanley Cup celebration, to honor the people and the place that shaped his early years.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2024–25 NHL season, Samoskevich established himself as a full-time NHL contributor with the Florida Panthers. He recorded his first NHL point in October 2024 and his first NHL goal later that same month, finishing the campaign as a member of the Stanley Cup-winning roster. The season represented a significant step forward in his development and a clear sign that his trajectory matched the Panthers’ contention window.
The Panthers extended Samoskevich on a one-year, $775,000 deal in July 2025, signaling their continued belief in his upside. While his role varied throughout the regular season and playoffs, his presence on the roster during the championship run cemented his place within the organization at the time of the extension.
