Niko Mikkola signed an eight-year contract with the Florida Panthers on Thursday. Financial terms were not disclosed for the deal, which begins with the 2026-27 season.
The 29-year-old defenseman set NHL career highs in goals (six), assists (16), points (22), plus/minus (plus-12), shots on goal (116) and ice time per game (20:12). He led the Panthers in hits (137) and was second in blocked shots (88), one behind defenseman Gustav Forsling.
"It's pretty awesome," Mikkola said. "I feel like this might be my last contract, it’s awesome to know the next nine years where I’m going to play."
Mikkola is the third member of last season's Cup champions to sign a long-term deal this offseason, joining forwads Brad Marchand (six years) and Sam Bennett (eight years).
"We were talking through the summer," Mikkola said, "and to see all the boys signed here, it was a no-brainer."
Mikkola, who is entering the last of a three-year contract he signed with Florida on July 1, 2023, had six points (three goals, three assists) in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games last season to help it win the Cup for the second straight season.
"You love those guys because they are part of the fabric of our your group; they do all the hard things," coach Paul Maurice said. "Sometimes in that role, because you have to take care of your top-end guys, they get missed or you lose them (to free agency). . We did not want to see him to go free agency.
"He’s a big part of that back end, so we are really happy. And he’s funny as hell, so it’s good to keep him around.”
Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the fifth round (No. 127) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Mikkola has 62 points (14 goals, 48 assists) in 328 regular-season games for the Blues, New York Rangers and Panthers and 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 69 playoff games.
He is entering his third season with Panthers and said he is happy he has finally found an NHL home.
"It feels like a second home, a first home now for a long time and the fans are great," Mikkola said. "The atmosphere at the rink is unbelievable the last two years, and every time I step on ice it feels amazing."
In his two seasons with Florida, he leads them with 335 hits and 212 blocks.
"Niko has proven himself to be a dependable defenseman who uses his speed and physicality to impact both ends of the ice," Panthers general manager Bill Zito said. "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."
