Panthers Agree to Terms with Defenseman Niko Mikkola on a 3-year Contract
The 6-foot-4, 209-pound defenseman has played in 170 career NHL games
ByPress Release
SUNRISE, Fla. - Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Niko Mikkola on a three-year, one-way contract.
"Niko's tough, physical presence and skating ability make him a great complement to our blueline," said Zito. "We are looking forward to welcoming him to South Florida."
Mikkola, 27, skated in 50 games with St. Louis before being traded to the Rangers where he skated in 31 regular season games, and notched two points (0-2-2) in seven postseason games.
The 6-foot-4, 209-pound native of Kiiminki, Fin. has played in 170 NHL games between St. Louis (2019-20 to 2022-23) and the New York Rangers (2022-23), registering 23 points (5-18-23) and 124 penalty minutes (PIM). He spent the greater part of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons with the Blues' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, amassing 23 points (4-19-23) in 118 games.
Mikkola was drafted in the fifth round (127th overall) by St. Louis in the 2015 NHL Draft. He was traded to the New York Rangers along with Vladimir Tarasenko in exchange for Sammy Blais, Hunter Skinner and two draft picks on February 9, 2023.
On the international stage, Mikkola captured gold with Finland at the 2019 World Championships, where he was named a World Championship Top Three Player on Team Finland. Mikkola also won gold for Finland in the 2016 World Junior Championship.
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