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 the year 2030. The extension has an average annual value of $5 million. The new Mikkola agreement, announced by General Manager Bill Zito, comes at a crucial time for the Panthers, who are seeking a third consecutive championship without two of their most important stars. Matthew Tkachuk is recovering from offseason surgery and is expected to return around December. Captain Aleksander Barkov suffered a torn ACL and MCL in a preseason practice, with a projected recovery of seven to nine months. Mikkola, 29, has proven his worth with the Panthers, being a key piece in the defense during their 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 game-winning goal in Game 3 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. At 6 feet 6 inches and 205 pounds, Mikkola’s game combines physicality with strong skating.Originally from Finland, Mikkola was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the fifth round (No. 127) of the 2015 NHL draft. After three seasons in St. Louis, he was traded to the New York Rangers in 2023 as part of the deal for Vladimir Tarasenko. He signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Panthers in 2023 as a free agent. This season is the last year of that contract; the extension will take effect for 2026-27 and will extend until 2033-34. Panthers defensemen Gustav Forsling, Aaron Ekblad, and Seth Jones have already committed to long-term deals. Mikkola is expected to be named to the Finnish team for the 2026 Olympics in Milan.“Niko has proven to be a reliable defenseman who uses his speed and physicality to make an impact at both ends of the ice”, Zito said in a statement. “He was an indispensable piece in our two previous championship campaigns, and we are delighted that Niko will continue his career with the Florida Panthers”.
Bill Zito
