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Niko Mikkola

Niko Mikkola
Mikkola with the New York Rangers in 2023
Born (1996-04-27) 27 April 1996 (age 28)
Kiiminki, Finland
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Florida Panthers
KalPa
Tappara
St. Louis Blues
New York Rangers
National team  Finland
NHL draft 127th overall, 2015
St. Louis Blues
Playing career 2014–present

Niko Mikkola (born 27 April 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Mikkola was selected by the St. Louis Blues, 127th overall, in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He previously played for the St. Louis Blues and the New York Rangers. Mikkola won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2024.

Playing career

Mikkola made his Liiga debut playing with KalPa during the 2014–15 Liiga season.[1] On 29 May 2017, despite interest from St. Louis to sign his entry-level deal, Mikkola opted to continue his professional career in the Liiga, signing a two-year deal with fellow Finnish outfit, Tappara.[2]

By still harbouring NHL ambitions, Mikkola opted to attend the St. Louis Blues 2017 training camp in preparation for the 2017–18 season. He was assigned back to Tappara after competing in two pre-season contests with the Blues on 25 September 2017.[3] In his only season with Tappara, Mikkola added 2 goals and 11 points in 50 regular season games before helping the club to a silver medal in the post-season, leading the league in plus-minus.

On 1 June 2018, Mikkola agreed to a two-year, entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues.[4]

During the 2019–20 season, on 7 January 2020, Mikkola made his NHL debut with the Blues against the San Jose Sharks.

Following his second full season with the Blues in 2021–22, Mikkola as a restricted free agent was signed to a one-year, $1.9 million contract extension on 17 July 2022.[5]

During the 2022–NHL season, Mikkola registered three assists through 50 regular season games before he was traded by the Blues on 9 February 2023, alongside Vladimir Tarasenko, to the New York Rangers in exchange for a conditional first-round selection in 2023 NHL Entry Draft and fourth-round selection in 2024, Samuel Blais and Hunter Skinner.[6]

As a free agent from the Rangers, Mikkola opted to remain in the Eastern Conference, signing a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Florida Panthers on 1 July 2023.[7]

On June 24, 2024, Mikkola won the Stanley Cup Championship with the Florida Panthers, after edging out the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. [8]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 KalPa Jr. A 37 9 14 23 80 — — — — —
2014–15 KalPa Liiga 10 0 1 1 4 — — — — —
2014–15 Hokki Mestis 5 1 0 1 8 7 0 1 1 2
2015–16 KalPa Liiga 55 3 6 9 22 3 0 1 1 4
2015–16 KalPa Jr. A — — — — — 8 0 1 1 10
2016–17 KalPa Liiga 56 4 11 15 89 10 1 2 3 4
2017–18 Tappara Liiga 50 2 9 11 54 16 0 1 1 10
2018–19 San Antonio Rampage AHL 70 2 7 9 41 — — — — —
2019–20 San Antonio Rampage AHL 48 2 12 14 24 — — — — —
2019–20 St. Louis Blues NHL 5 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2020–21 St. Louis Blues NHL 30 1 2 3 11 4 0 1 1 2
2021–22 St. Louis Blues NHL 54 3 10 13 55 12 0 1 1 8
2022–23 St. Louis Blues NHL 50 0 3 3 35 — — — — —
2022–23 New York Rangers NHL 31 1 2 3 23 7 0 2 2 12
2023–24 Florida Panthers NHL 82 3 14 17 69 24 2 2 4 22
Liiga totals 171 9 27 36 169 29 1 4 5 18
NHL totals 252 8 32 40 193 47 2 6 8 44

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Finland
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2019 Slovakia
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Finland

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2016 Finland WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 0 1 1 6
2019 Finland WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 10 2 3 5 0
Junior totals 7 0 1 1 6
Senior totals 10 2 3 5 0

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2024

References

  1. ^ "Niko Mikkola player profile". jatkoaika.com (in Finnish). 5 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Blues prospect Niko Mikkola signs two-year deal with Finnish club". archauthority.com. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Mikkola assigned to Finnish Elite league club". National Hockey League. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Blues sign Mikkola to entry-level deal". St. Louis Blues. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  5. ^ "Niko Mikkola signs one-year extension". St. Louis Blues. 17 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Tarasenko traded to Rangers by Blues". NHL.com. 9 February 2023. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Panthers agree to terms with defenseman Niko Mikkola on a 3-year contract". Florida Panthers. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Top Cats: Panthers win their 1st Stanley Cup, top Oilers 2-1 in Game 7". AP News. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.


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