Florida selected Samoskevich 24th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft

Mackie Samoskevich feels that he's ready to play in the NHL.

As Florida's 2021 first-round pick joins a few dozen of his fellow Panthers prospects for Development Camp this week, Samoskevich is focused on getting better every day.

At the same time, he believes that if he continues on that arc, making Florida's Opening Night roster is a challenge he can conquer.

"I'd love to play down here, I think that's the main goal," Samoskevich said Monday after his first skate of Development Camp. "I don't think it's a farfetched goal. I know I can do it."

Following two solid seasons with the University of Michigan, Samoskevich signed his entry-level contract with the Panthers in May.

He had previously signed a PTO with Florida's AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, and was with the team through its second-round exit of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Samoskevich picked up two assists in two regular season games before adding another four helpers in seven postseason contests.

Charlotte Head Coach Geordie Kinnear, who was with Florida's Black Aces and runs Development Camp, liked what he saw from the youngster.

"We put him in the lineup right away, added some quality time on ice with some serious responsibility," said Kinnear. "What I liked about Mackey is he understands an honest evaluation of the play. So when he didn't have a good game, I called him in my office and I said, 'What do you think your game?' I wouldn't tell him what I thought, and he said, 'I wasn't very good.' I said, 'Well, everyone's going to have a game like that, so next game, go out and be better.'

"You need that from players, for an honest evaluation of their own play, and then now as a coach, it makes it very easy. He came in and he was a great player for us, played in some high intense playoff games in the American League, which is not easy for college kids coming in, and I thought he did an outstanding job."

It wasn't an easy decision for Samoskevich when he chose to leave Michigan and begin his professional career, but it's one he's glad he made.

"It was a tough one for sure," Samoskevich said. "It took me a couple of days to figure it out, talking with my parents, a couple of people, agents and whatnot. I knew I had to take that step. As hard as it was, I think coming here is even better. The progress here that I can make with the coaching staff and other players that are here is just top notch. I think it's something I had to do."

Samoskevich is in his second Development Camp in Sunrise.

Last summer the plan was to return to college for his sophomore season and compete for an NCAA Championship.

Now he's under contract, which changes things a bit at D camp.

"It's a bit different," Samoskevich said. "Now it's your job, you're getting paid to do it. I like it way more just because it pushes you a little bit more. It's your job now. It's something you do for a living, and it's something I love to do for a living."

Over the past several months, Samoskevich had the unique experience of going to an NCAA Frozen Four (and scoring the OT winner to send Michigan there), the Calder Cup Playoffs and being a Black Ace during the Panthers run to the Stanley Cup Final.

Living through that growing crescendo of postseason intensity could be a jolt to the nervous system for some, but all signs point to the 20-year-old Connecticut native being built for this.

His time with the Panthers as a Black Ace was more like pouring gasoline on the fire than anything else.

"It was pretty sweet," he said. "I think being there for the home games was just…the things that make you love playing this game. The atmosphere down here was amazing to see, and me hopefully one day being a part of it will be pretty special."

Some say you can only truly have an appetite for something after you've actually tasted it.

Perhaps having a front row seat for the Stanley Cup Final will have a similar effect on Samoskevich.

"Just sitting up there and seeing how loud it is, with all the lights and stuff like that, it definitely pushes you harder," he said. 

Video footage is courtesy of the Florida Panthers.