Niko Mikkola

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Niko Mikkola
Niko Mikkola (cropped).jpg
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 teamFlag of Finland.svg  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.

Contents

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 TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2014–15 KalPa Jr. A379142380—————
2014–15 KalPa Liiga 100114—————
2014–15 Hokki Mestis 5101870112
2015–16 KalPaLiiga553692230114
2015–16KalPaJr. A—————801110
2016–17 KalPaLiiga564111589101234
2017–18 Tappara Liiga502911541601110
2018–19 San Antonio Rampage AHL 7027941—————
2019–20 San Antonio RampageAHL482121424—————
2019–20 St. Louis Blues NHL 50110—————
2020–21 St. Louis BluesNHL301231140112
2021–22 St. Louis BluesNHL543101355120118
2022–23 St. Louis BluesNHL5003335—————
2022–23 New York Rangers NHL3112323702212
2023–24 Florida Panthers NHL8231417692422422
Liiga totals171927361692914518
NHL totals252832401934726844
2017 C1C - FIN v KOR (06).jpg
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Slovakia
World Junior Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2016 Finland

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2016 Finland WJC Gold medal icon.svg70116
2019 Finland WC Gold medal icon.svg102350
Junior totals70116
Senior totals102350

Awards and honours

AwardYearRef
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2024

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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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