{{Short description|Finnish ice hockey player (born 1996)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | name = Niko Mikkola | image = Niko Mikkola (cropped).jpg | image_size = 225px | caption = Mikkola with the New York Rangers in 2023 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|04|27|df=y}} | birth_place = Kiiminki, Finland | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lb = 198 | position = Defence | shoots = Left | league = NHL | team = Florida Panthers | former_teams = KalPa<br>Tappara<br>St. Louis Blues<br>New York Rangers | ntl_team = FIN | draft = 127th overall | draft_team = St. Louis Blues | draft_year = 2015 | career_start = 2014 | career_end = }} '''Niko Mikkola''' (born 27 April 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who is a 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 back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Panthers in 2024 and 2025.
==Playing career== Mikkola made his Liiga debut playing with KalPa during the 2014–15 Liiga season.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.jatkoaika.com/Pelaaja/niko-mikkola/27412 | website = jatkoaika.com | date = 5 April 2015 | accessdate = 6 April 2015 | title = Niko Mikkola player profile| language = Finnish}}</ref>
On 29 May 2017, despite interest from the St. Louis Blues 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.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://archauthority.com/2017/06/03/st-louis-blues-prospect-niko-mikkola-signs-two-year-deal-finnish-club/ | title = Blues prospect Niko Mikkola signs two-year deal with Finnish club | website = archauthority.com | date = 3 June 2017 | accessdate = 4 June 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/mikkola-assigned-to-finnish-elite-league-club/c-291320496 | website = National Hockey League | date = 25 September 2017 | accessdate = 25 September 2017 | title = Mikkola assigned to Finnish Elite league club }}</ref> 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 postseason, leading the league in plus-minus.
On 1 June 2018, Mikkola agreed to a two-year, entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/blues-sign-mikkola-to-two-year-entry-level-deal/c-298848136 | title = Blues sign Mikkola to entry-level deal | publisher = St. Louis Blues | date = 1 June 2018 | accessdate = 1 June 2018}}</ref>
During the 2019–20 season, on 7 January 2020, Mikkola made his NHL debut with the Blues against the San Jose Sharks.
On 8 March 2021, Mikkola scored his first NHL goal, against San Jose Sharks goaltender Devan Dubnyk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=401283729|title=Sharks 3–2 Blues (Mar 8, 2021) Game Recap|website=ESPN}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/niko-mikkola-signs-one-year-extension-with-blues/c-335013326 |title=Niko Mikkola signs one-year extension |publisher=St. Louis Blues |date=17 July 2022 |access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref>
During the 2022–23 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tarasenko traded to Rangers by Blues |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/vladimir-tarasenko-traded-to-new-york-rangers-by-st-louis-blues/c-340859794 |website=NHL.com |date=9 February 2023 |access-date=9 February 2023 |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209195931/https://www.nhl.com/news/vladimir-tarasenko-traded-to-new-york-rangers-by-st-louis-blues/c-340859794 |url-status=live }}</ref>
As a free agent from the Rangers, Mikkola signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Florida Panthers on 1 July 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-agree-to-terms-with-defenseman-niko-mikkola-on-a-three-year-contract/c-345163038 |title=Panthers agree to terms with defenseman Niko Mikkola on a 3-year contract |publisher=Florida Panthers |date=1 July 2023 |access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref>
On 24 June 2024, Mikkola won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, after edging out the Edmonton Oilers 2–1 in game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 June 2024 |title=Top Cats: Panthers win their 1st Stanley Cup, top Oilers 2–1 in Game 7 |url=https://apnews.com/article/stanley-cup-2024-panthers-oilers-game-7-c88d9687eac38df0d52e239b2d20cf4a |access-date=25 June 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>
On 2 October 2025, Mikkola signed an eight-year contract extension with the Panthers beginning with 2026–27 NHL season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 October 2025 |title=Florida Panthers Agree to Terms with Defenseman Niko Mikkola on an Eight-Year Contract Extension |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-agree-to-terms-with-defenseman-niko-mikkola-on-an-eight-year-contract-extension |access-date=2 January 2026 |website=www.nhl.com|publisher=Florida Panthers}}</ref>
==International play== {{MedalTableTop|Niko Mikkola 2017.jpg|200px|name=}} {{MedalSport|Men's ice hockey}} {{MedalCountry|{{ih|FIN}}}} {{MedalOlympic}} {{MedalBronze|2026 Milano Cortina|}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalGold|2019 Slovakia|}} {{MedalCompetition|World Junior Championships}} {{MedalGold|2016 Finland|}} {{MedalBottom}} Mikkola represented the Finland junior team at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldjunior2016.com/en/news/finland-ready|title=Finland ready|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227220617/http://www.worldjunior2016.com/en/news/finland-ready |archive-date=27 December 2015 }}</ref>
He represented the Finland national team at the 2019 IIHF World Championship<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://leijonat.fi/index.php/maajoukkueet/a-maajoukkue/2018-19/mm2019/item/32812-miesten-mm-kisat-kayntiin-perjantaina-suomen-mm-joukkue-valittu|title=Miesten MM-kisat käyntiin perjantaina – Suomen MM-joukkue valittu|publisher=leijonat.fi|date=5 May 2019|access-date=6 May 2019|language=fi|archive-date=7 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507110044/https://www.leijonat.fi/index.php/maajoukkueet/a-maajoukkue/2018-19/mm2019/item/32812-miesten-mm-kisat-kayntiin-perjantaina-suomen-mm-joukkue-valittu|url-status=live}}</ref> and the 4 Nations Face-Off.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/finland-roster-for-4-nations-face-off-includes-patrik-laine |title=Finland roster for 4 Nations Face-Off includes Laine |website=NHL.com |date=4 December 2024 |access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref>
He represented Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics and won a bronze medal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/finland-defeats-slovakia-to-win-bronze-medal-in-olympic-mens-hockey/ |title=Finland defeats Slovakia to win bronze medal in Olympic men's hockey |website=Sportsnet.ca |date=21 February 2026 |access-date=21 February 2026}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2014–15 | KalPa | Jr. A | 37 || 9 || 14 || 23 || 80 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2014–15 | KalPa | Liiga | 10 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2014–15 | Hokki | Mestis | 5 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 8 | 7 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2015–16 | KalPa | Liiga | 55 || 3 || 6 || 9 || 22 | 3 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 4 |- | 2015–16 | KalPa | Jr. A | — || — || — || — || — | 8 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 10 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2016–17 | KalPa | Liiga | 56 || 4 || 11 || 15 || 89 | 10 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 |- | 2017–18 | Tappara | Liiga | 50 || 2 || 9 || 11 || 54 | 16 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 10 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2018–19 | San Antonio Rampage | AHL | 70 || 2 || 7 || 9 || 41 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2019–20 | San Antonio Rampage | AHL | 48 || 2 || 12 || 14 || 24 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2019–20 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 5 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2020–21 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 30 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 11 | 4 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2021–22 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 54 || 3 || 10 || 13 || 55 | 12 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 8 |- | 2022–23 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 50 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 35 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2022–23 | New York Rangers | NHL | 31 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 23 | 7 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 12 |- | 2023–24 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 82 || 3 || 14 || 17 || 69 | 24 || 2 || 2 || 4 || 22 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2024–25 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 76 || 6 || 16 || 22 || 70 | 22 || 3 || 3 || 6 || 37 |- | 2025–26 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 68 || 3 || 8 || 11 || 47 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | Liiga totals ! 171 !! 9 !! 27 !! 36 !! 169 ! 29 !! 1 !! 4 !! 5 !! 18 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 396 !! 17 !! 56 !! 73 !! 310 ! 69 !! 5 !! 9 !! 14 !! 81 |}
===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2016 | Finland | WJC | {{gold1}} | 7 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 6 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2019 | Finland | WC | {{gold1}} | 10 || 2 || 3 || 5 || 0 |- | 2025 | Finland | 4NF | 4th | 3 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2026 | Finland | OG | {{bronze3}} | 6 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 4 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" | Junior totals ! 7 !! 0 !! 1 !! 1 !! 6 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" | Senior totals ! 19 !! 2 !! 7 !! 9 !! 6 |}
==Awards and honours== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! Ref |- ! colspan="4"|NHL |- | Stanley Cup champion | 2024, 2025 | <ref>{{cite web |last1=Satriano |first1=David |title=How Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers were built |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/how-2025-stanley-cup-champion-panthers-were-built |website=NHL.com |access-date=20 June 2025 |date=18 June 2025}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Ice hockey stats}} * [https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/results/athlete-details/45938 Niko Mikkola] at Milano Cortina 2026 * {{Olympics.com}} * {{Olympedia}} * {{InterSportStats}} * {{Olympiakomitea.fi}} * {{Instagram}}<!-- per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only -->
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mikkola, Niko}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:4 Nations Face-Off players Category:21st-century Finnish sportsmen Category:Finnish ice hockey defencemen Category:Florida Panthers players Category:Ice hockey people from North Ostrobothnia Category:Ice hockey players at the 2026 Winter Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2026 Winter Olympics Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Finland Category:Olympic medalists in ice hockey Category:Olympic ice hockey players for Finland Category:KalPa players Category:New York Rangers players Category:People from Kiiminki Category:San Antonio Rampage players Category:St. Louis Blues draft picks Category:St. Louis Blues players Category:Stanley Cup champions Category:Tappara players