HIGHLIGHTS
- The Florida Panthers have locked up another key piece of their core
- The Stanley Cup champs handed Niko Mikkola a $40 million extension
- Read on for the full story
The Florida Panthers’ offseason saw them extend the likes of Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, and Sam Bennett. You can now add Niko Mikkola to the list.
The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions have signed the defenceman to an eight-year, $40 million extension.
Via Chris Johnston:
As mentioned, Mikkola will make $5 million annually on this new deal. The Finland native has been with the Panthers since July of 2023, when he signed a three-year contract with the franchise in free agency.
Since then, Mikkola has established himself as a reliable blueliner for Paul Maurice’s squad. He had a breakout campaign in 2024-25, posting career-highs in goals, assists, and points. Mikkola also led Florida in hits with 137.
Cats GM Bill Zito made it clear just how important Mikkola is to this talented core:
“Niko has proven himself to be a dependable defenseman who uses his speed and physicality to impact both ends of the ice,” said Zito, via NHL.com. “He was an indispensable piece of our past two championship campaigns, and we are thrilled that Niko will be continuing his career with the Florida Panthers.”
Mikkola has also played for the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers, but he’s evidently found a home in South Florida. The Finnish defenceman collected six points in the playoffs, even scoring a game-winning goal in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. When it comes to playing for his country, he made three appearances at the Four Nations in February as well.
The Panthers now have 11 players locked up until 2030. This club has every chance to win another Cup in 2025-26 as they look to become the NHL’s next modern-day dynasty.
