Back at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the St. Louis Blues selected Niko Mikkola with the 127th overall pick. From there, the left-shot defenseman played his first four NHL seasons with the Blues before being traded to the New York Rangers during the 2022-23 season. In 139 games as a Blue, he had four goals, 20 points, and 259 hits.
After a brief stint as a rental for the Rangers, Mikkola signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Florida Panthers during the 2023 NHL off-season. In his first season with the Cats in 2023-24, he had three goals and set a new career-high with 17 points in 82 contests. He also had 124 blocks and 198 hits.
© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
As solid as Mikkola was during his first season with the Panthers, he has taken his game to a new level this season. In 49 games, he has four goals, a new career high, and has already tied last season’s 17 points. With this, the 28-year-old is taking his offensive game to a new level. He is also maintaining his steady defensive play and toughness in the process, as his plus-11 rating and 82 hits effectively demonstrate.
Mikkola’s solid all-around play has earned him a spot in the Panthers’ top four and on their penalty kill. Overall, the former Blue seems to have found a great fit in Florida, and it will be intriguing to see how he builds on his big season from here.
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