The Florida Panthers
traded restricted free agent ahead Mackie Samoskevich to the Seattle Kraken on Sunday afternoon for 2 draft picks, together with the No. 25 general decide within the 2026 class.
The NHL Draft begins with the primary spherical on Friday.
It is a honest return for Samoskevich, a gifted however not fairly completed product at ahead, whereas it additionally offers Seattle a younger participant with some untapped potential who may nonetheless emerge as a top-line participant.
However all of that’s merely a sub-plot for what the commerce may imply within the greater image of the offseason for the Panthers.
With the No. 25 decide now of their possession, the Panthers personal two of the top-25 picks within the 2026 draft class (No. 9 and No. 25) and may very well be positioning themselves for a large blockbuster transfer within the coming days.
Might the Panthers be gathering property to make a run at Connor Hellebuyck?
It isn’t exhausting to place the puzzle items collectively right here and see how there may very well be a possible match between the Panthers and the Winnipeg Jets involving a Connor Hellebuyck commerce.
- Hellebuyck was extraordinarily sad with the state of the Winnipeg group following the common season and appears to be uninterested in shedding in a company that is not maximizing the expertise round him. That has put him as a severe commerce candidate going into the offseason.
- The Panthers wouldn’t have a goalie below contract for this season and shouldn’t be keen to pay to deliver again Sergei Bobrovsky given his age and quickly declining play. It’s a place that was a significant downside spot through the 2025-26 season
- With a wholesome Aleksander Barkov returning this season, the Panthers are going to be all-in on attempting to win, and including a top-tier goalie to their roster may make them a severe preseason favourite though they’re coming off a season that noticed them miss the playoffs completely.
- With two top-25 picks, Florida now has some severe draft decide capital that may very well be of curiosity to Winnipeg.
The 2 picks alone may not be sufficient for one of many league’s elite goalies, however it could virtually definitely be a part of the bundle.
