Panthers Secure Niko Mikkola with Multi-Year Extension
The Florida Panthers have reached an agreement to extend defenseman Niko Mikkola’s contract for eight years, thus securing four of their main defensemen until at least 2030. The extension, announced by general manager Bill Zito, has an average annual value of $5 million. This agreement comes at a crucial moment for the Panthers, who are seeking a three-peat, although they face significant challenges. Matthew Tkachuk is recovering from surgery and is expected to return around December, while captain Aleksander Barkov suffered an injury in preseason practice and will be out for seven to nine months. Mikkola, 29, has proven to be a key player for the Panthers, being a defensive pillar in their recent Stanley Cup victories. He has participated in 46 playoff games in the last two seasons, averaging 19:23 minutes per game. In addition, he has scored important goals, including the winning goal in Game 3 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals.Mikkola, at 6 feet 6 inches and 205 pounds, combines his physical play with solid skating. Originally from Finland, Mikkola was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL draft. After three seasons in St. Louis, he was traded to the New York Rangers in 2023. In 2023, he signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Panthers as a free agent. The extension will take effect for the 2026-27 season and will run until 2033-34. His fellow defensemen Gustav Forsling, Aaron Ekblad, and Seth Jones already have long-term deals. Mikkola is expected to be selected for the Finnish team at the 2026 Milan Olympics.Niko has proven to be a reliable defenseman who uses his speed and physicality to impact both ends of the ice. He was an indispensable piece in our last two championship campaigns, and we are delighted that he will continue his career with the Florida Panthers.
Bill Zito
