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Fans Accuse the Florida Panthers of Breaking NHL Rules With Mackie Samoskevich Contract

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jul 10, 2025 1:56 PM ET

The Florida Panthers have somehow kept their team together this off-season, and after re-signing Mackie Samoskevich, they've been called out for violating NHL rules.

Coming into the 2025 off-season, the Florida Panthers had plenty of business to take care of, and somehow, despite all the doubts, they managed to sign Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad all to long-term deals, keeping this incredible core group together for years to come.

General Manager Bill Zito wasn't done there however, as the team announced on social media on Thursday that rookie winger Mackie Samoskevich was signed to a one-year deal, with Zito raving about the 22-year old.

'Mackie is a talented young forward who demonstrated skill and maturity well above his age in his first full NHL season.
He showcased his ability to slot into any hole in our lineup and find success this past season, which is a testament to both his play and character. We look forward to seeing him compete in our organization for years to come.'

It makes sense that after hoisting the Stanley Cup, Samoskevich would want to return to a team that's ready to compete for years to come, but some fans don't buy it, even suggesting that something shady is happening.

This particular fan on social media believes that Samoskevich was highly undervalued on this deal, believing that the Panthers have something going on under the table that convinced the 22-year old to stay.

However, he signed a one-year deal with the team now $3.75 million over the salary cap, and with the team likely to make a trade or two, on his next deal, they're likely to give him more when they have the space.

Ultimately though, the Panthers have become a source of hatred for many around the league given the amazing business they've been able to do in recent times, and whether you like it or not, as of right now, there's no proof that anything shady went down here.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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