Seattle Kraken forward Mackie Samoskevich is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, and the team said Saturday morning he will not suit up for the preseason finale against the Vancouver Canucks.
That leaves the 2026 NHL preseason to close without the 23-year-old winger, who was on the ice Thursday in Seattle’s 4-3 shootout win over the Calgary Flames. Samoskevich logged 18:30 of ice time in that game, finished plus-2, and did not record a point.
Seattle brought Samoskevich in during June in a trade with the Florida Panthers, adding a former first-round pick who has already built a solid NHL résumé. Florida took him No. 24 overall in the 2021 NHL Draft after he spent two seasons with the USHL’s Chicago Steel and then moved on to the University of Michigan.
At Michigan, Samoskevich put up 30 goals and 62 points in 79 games over two seasons before turning pro with the Panthers in 2023. He played his first seven NHL games in 2023-24, but did not appear in Florida’s Stanley Cup run that season. The next year, though, he had his name engraved on the trophy after posting 15 goals and 32 points in 76 games across the regular season and playoffs.
Samoskevich followed that with 10 goals and 32 points in 77 games during 2025-26, the final year of his entry-level deal. After the season, Florida dealt him to Seattle for a 2026 first-round pick, which was later flipped to the Ottawa Senators in the Brady Tkachuk trade, plus a conditional 2027 second-round pick. Samoskevich then signed a three-year contract with the Kraken worth $3.85 million per season.
In Other News...
Panthers Are Back In The Middle Of A Familiar Free Agent Chase
The Panthers are once again hovering around the edge of a familiar summer pursuit, this time with Vladimir Tarasenko among the remaining free agents drawing attention in Florida. Tarasenko is reportedly skating in the state, and the Panthers are showing interest as they continue to keep tabs on the market for possible late additions.
One of the more intriguing names still in play is Connor Hellebuyck, though the situation around the Winnipeg goalie remains unresolved and could still take a few different turns. Winnipeg has kept the door open to options, but with the calendar moving and no clear movement on a trade, the pressure around his status is starting to build in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Still Have One Roster Squeeze To Solve Before Opening Night
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Cap space remains the main squeeze, but the Panthers are expecting some relief from injured forwards Brad Marchand and Jonah Gadjovich, both of whom are candidates to land on long-term injured reserve. Marchands absence would keep him sidelined for the early part of the season, while Gadjovichs status leaves Florida with another moving piece to account for as it tries to get under the cap and carry the group it wants into opening night. [Read more 🡒]
Gustav Forsling Gives Panthers Fans Another Reason To Trust This Blue Line
Gustav Forsling is already back in the familiar place the Panthers want him to be, getting himself ready for another NHL season after hitting the preseason game limit for veterans. With the extended offseason giving him extra time to reset, the Florida defenseman said he has leaned into smart training rather than simply piling on more work, a fitting approach for a blue liner whose game is built on timing, positioning and efficiency. He remains set to continue alongside Aaron Ekblad, a pairing that has become central to how Florida wants to defend and move the puck.
For the Panthers, the appeal goes beyond routine continuity. Forsling has grown into one of the steadier pieces on the roster, and his track record has only strengthened the confidence around a blue line that expects to do heavy lifting again this season. Paul Maurice has praised the way Forsling handles his preparation and the level he brings, and Florida is banking on that same dependable presence as the team looks to pick up where it left off. [Read more 🡒]