Niko Mikkola
| Position | Left Defense | Current Team | Florida Panthers |
| Shoots | Left | Current Contract | 3 years |
| Height | 6'6" | Expires | 2025-26 |
| Weight (lbs) | 204 | Extended Through | 2033-34 |
| Age | 29 (Apr 27, 1996) | Expiry Age (Jun 30) | 38 |
| Drafted | 2015, Round 5, Overall 127 (STL) | Expiry Status | UFA |
| Date | Team | Transaction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2025 | Florida Panthers | Signed 8 years @ $5.000M AAV starting in 2026-27 | |
| Jul 1, 2023 | Florida Panthers | Signed 3 years @ $2.500M AAV starting in 2023-24 | |
| Sep 17, 2022 | St. Louis Blues | Signed 1 year @ $1.900M AAV starting in 2022-23 | |
| Jan 30, 2020 | St. Louis Blues | Signed 2 years @ $787K AAV starting in 2020-21 | |
| May 31, 2018 | St. Louis Blues | Signed to an entry level contract. |
2025-26 Player Card
URL: https://www.thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20252026/niko-mikkola-8478859.png
2024-25 Player Card
URL: https://www.thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20242025/niko-mikkola-8478859.png
2023-24 Player Card
URL: https://www.thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20232024/niko-mikkola-8478859.png
About Player Cards
Player cards present an infographic of a players performance. In this case it shows the player performance over a 3 season span. Each square is separated into three separate sub-boxes with the two smaller boxes on top representing the past two seasons and the larger box on the bottom representing the current or most recent season. This allows the reader to guage how consistent a player has been, and if early in the season it can help identify whether a players performance may be impacted by small sample size and subject to regression or is consistent with recent past performance.
Notes and Definitions
- The numbers represent percentiles so the higher the better.
- Percentiles are determined by comparing Forwards to Forwards and Defensemen to Defensemen.
- Bursts/mi are calculated from NHL Edge Data are are speed bursts above 20mpg per mile skated. The NHL doesn't adjust for ice time so the players that skate more will naturally have more bursts over 20, or at least more opportunity to have more. The NHL also does not provide ice time in the context of NHL Edge Statistics, however, it does provide distance skated. By adjusting for distance skated it will have a similar effect to adjusting for ice time but also adjust for situationional effect. For example, Players don't typically skate as much on the PK, mostly within the defensive zone, so don't get significant opportunity in that ice time to get speed bursts above 20mph. Adjusting with miles skates would account for this better than adjusting with ice time.
- Sh%AE is Shooting Percentage above Expected (Sh% - xSh%) and is an indicator of how good a shooter is at converting chances into goals.
- Relative statistics are On Ice - Off Ice statistics and can be an indicator of whether the player makes his teammates better or worse.
- All data is 5v5 except Shooting Hardest and Average, Skating Top Speed and Bursts/mi which are all situations, ES Average which is even strength (NHL doesn't give a specific definition).
Data Sources
- Salary data is from TheStanleyCap.com
- Shooting and Skating (except Sh%AE) are from NHL Edge
- Other statistics are from Puckalytics.com and derived from data from NHL.com
Terms of Use
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Note: The image will update daily throughout the season so if you want to include snapshot then you must download the image.
If you have any questions, send an e-mail to the e-mail address at the top of this page.
5v5 Individual Stats
| Season | Team(s) | GP | TOI | G/60 | A/60 | Pts/60 | xG/60 | GAE/60 | Sh% | xSh% | Sh%AE | %SA Rush | %SA Reb. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | STL | 5 | 65:24 | 0.00 | 0.92 | 0.92 | 0.14 | -0.14 | 0.00 | 1.71 | -1.71 | 0.00 | 30.00 |
| 2020-21 | STL | 30 | 368:50 | 0.16 | 0.33 | 0.49 | 0.17 | -0.00 | 5.00 | 5.08 | -0.08 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 2021-22 | STL | 54 | 788:20 | 0.15 | 0.61 | 0.76 | 0.20 | -0.04 | 3.64 | 4.66 | -1.03 | 1.35 | 0.00 |
| 2022-23 | STL | 50 | 718:13 | 0.00 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.13 | -0.13 | 0.00 | 5.31 | -5.31 | 2.04 | 0.00 |
| 2022-23 | NYR | 31 | 513:47 | 0.12 | 0.23 | 0.35 | 0.12 | 0.00 | 3.45 | 3.45 | -0.00 | 0.00 | 5.41 |
| 2022-23 | NYR, STL | 81 | 1232:00 | 0.05 | 0.24 | 0.29 | 0.12 | -0.08 | 1.72 | 4.38 | -2.66 | 1.16 | 2.33 |
| 2023-24 | FLA | 82 | 1376:36 | 0.09 | 0.52 | 0.61 | 0.16 | -0.07 | 2.30 | 4.23 | -1.93 | 0.84 | 5.88 |
| 2024-25 | FLA | 76 | 1317:38 | 0.27 | 0.68 | 0.96 | 0.21 | 0.07 | 5.77 | 4.39 | 1.38 | 0.00 | 6.92 |
| 2025-26 | FLA | 21 | 348:41 | 0.00 | 0.52 | 0.52 | 0.22 | -0.22 | 0.00 | 6.42 | -6.42 | 2.56 | 5.13 |
5v5 On Ice Stats
| Season | Team(s) | GP | TOI | SAF/60 | GF/60 | xGF/60 | SAA/60 | GA/60 | xGA/60 | GF% | xGF% | xGF Rel | xGA Rel | xGF% Rel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | STL | 5 | 65:24 | 53.21 | 3.67 | 2.89 | 31.19 | 0.92 | 1.92 | 80.00 | 60.02 | 0.67 | 0.09 | 5.29 |
| 2020-21 | STL | 30 | 368:50 | 30.42 | 1.63 | 1.78 | 38.07 | 3.25 | 2.24 | 33.33 | 44.35 | -0.43 | -0.24 | -2.88 |
| 2021-22 | STL | 54 | 788:20 | 35.09 | 2.66 | 2.39 | 44.30 | 3.42 | 2.73 | 43.75 | 46.69 | -0.25 | -0.14 | -1.22 |
| 2022-23 | STL | 50 | 718:13 | 33.50 | 2.42 | 2.23 | 43.69 | 2.67 | 2.73 | 47.54 | 44.92 | -0.30 | -0.06 | -2.52 |
| 2022-23 | NYR | 31 | 513:47 | 34.92 | 2.80 | 2.37 | 42.04 | 2.69 | 2.67 | 51.06 | 46.98 | -0.27 | -0.07 | -2.00 |
| 2022-23 | NYR, STL | 81 | 1232:00 | 34.09 | 2.58 | 2.29 | 43.00 | 2.68 | 2.71 | 49.07 | 45.79 | -0.28 | -0.07 | -2.23 |
| 2023-24 | FLA | 82 | 1376:36 | 43.37 | 2.18 | 2.43 | 39.58 | 2.14 | 2.21 | 50.51 | 52.46 | -0.24 | -0.05 | -1.83 |
| 2024-25 | FLA | 76 | 1317:38 | 44.90 | 2.37 | 2.48 | 37.29 | 2.32 | 2.06 | 50.49 | 54.57 | -0.09 | -0.11 | 0.33 |
| 2025-26 | FLA | 21 | 348:41 | 44.57 | 2.41 | 2.63 | 35.96 | 2.06 | 1.84 | 53.85 | 58.79 | 0.15 | -0.58 | 8.19 |
NHL Edge Stats
| Skating | Shooting | Zone Time | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | GP | Top Speed | Bursts>20/mi | Avg. Speed | ES Avg. Speed | Top Speed | Avg. Speed | %Long Range | %Mid Range | %High Danger | ES DZ% | ES NZ% | ES OZ% |
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Legend
| Percentile 0-25 | Percentile 25-50 | Percentile 50-75 | Percentile 75-100 |
5v5 Defense Pairs
| Season | Teammate | Team | TOI | GF/60 | GA/60 | GF% | xGF/60 | xGA/60 | xGF% | xGF Rel | xGA Rel | xGF% Rel |
|---|
Glossary
| Type | Statistic | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | G/60 | Goals Against per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | A/60 | Assists per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | Pts/60 | Points per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | xG/60 | Expected Goals per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | GAE/60 | Goals Above Expected (G/60 - xG/60). |
| Individual | Sh% | Shooting Percentage. |
| Individual | xSh% | Expected Shooting Percentage. |
| Individual | Sh%AE | Shooting percentage above expected (Sh% - xSh%). |
| Individual | %SA Rush | Percentage of shot attempts determined to be on the rush. |
| Individual | %SA Reb. | Percentage of shot attempts determined to be from rebounds. |
| On Ice | SAF/60 | Shot Attempts For per 60 minutes. |
| On Ice | GF/60 | Goals For per 60 minutes. |
| On Ice | xGF/60 | Expected Goals For per 60 minutes. |
| On Ice | SAA/60 | Shot Attempts Against per 60 minutes (lower is better). |
| On Ice | GA/60 | Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better). |
| On Ice | xGA/60 | Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better). |
| On Ice | GF% | Goals For Percentage = Goals For / (Goals For + Goals Against) |
| On Ice | xGF% | Expected Goals For Percentage = Expected Goals For / (Expected Goals For + Expected Goals Against) |
| On Ice | xGF Rel | xGF/60 when On Ice - xGF/60 when not On Ice. |
| On Ice | xGA Rel | xGA/60 when On Ice - xGA/60 when not On Ice (lower is better). |
| On Ice | xGF% Rel | xGF% when On Ice - xGF% when not On Ice. |
News and Opinions
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Mikkola exits with injury as Panthers' skid hits 4 at ESPN (Sat Oct 18, 2025)
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Panthers suffer fourth straight defeat, lose Niko Mikkola to injury at Yahoo Sports NHL (Sat Oct 18, 2025)
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Niko Mikkola obtient une prolongation majeure avec les Panthers at HABSolument Fan (Thu Oct 2, 2025)
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Rangers blunder stings as Niko Mikkola gets massive Panthers payday at Blue Line Station (Thu Oct 2, 2025)
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Former Blues Defenseman Signs Monster Contract With Panthers at Yahoo Sports NHL (Thu Oct 2, 2025)
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Florida adds another long-term deal, giving Niko Mikkola an eight-year, $40 million extension at Yahoo Sports NHL (Thu Oct 2, 2025)
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Panthers Sign Niko Mikkola to an 8-Year Extension at The Hockey Writers (Thu Oct 2, 2025)
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Sources: Panthers, Mikkola finalizing extension at ESPN (Thu Oct 2, 2025)
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Niko Mikkola Put The NHL On Notice During The Playoffs, But His Value To The Panthers Remains Underrated at Yahoo Sports NHL (Mon Jul 28, 2025)
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Could Winnipeg Target Florida's Niko Mikkola? at Yahoo Sports NHL (Tue Jul 22, 2025)
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Could the Red Wings Target Panthers' Pending Free Agent Niko Mikkola? at Yahoo Sports NHL (Sat Jul 19, 2025)
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Stanley Cup Final Game 1 Preview: How To Watch, Odds, Injuries, Notes, and Keys at The Rat Trick (Wed Jun 4, 2025)
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Panthers vs. Hurricanes Game 4 Preview: How To Watch, Odds, Injuries, Notes, and Keys at The Rat Trick (Sun May 25, 2025)
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Panthers vs. Hurricanes Game 3 Preview: How To Watch, Odds, Injuries, Notes, and Keys at The Rat Trick (Fri May 23, 2025)
Current Contract
Niko Mikkola signed a $7,500,000 3-year contract with the Florida Panthers and General Manager Bill Zito on July 1, 2023 with an AAV of $2,500,000. This contract will start in 2023-24 and end after the 2025-26 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 2.99% of the salary cap.
Standard Contract (UFA) ( ) (0 ratings)
Contract Extension
Niko Mikkola signed an $40,000,000 8-year contract with the Florida Panthers and General Manager Bill Zito on October 2, 2025 with an AAV of $5,000,000. This contract will start in 2026-27 and end after the 2033-34 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 4.81% of the salary cap.
Standard Contract (UFA) ( ) (0 ratings)
| Season | Age* | Clause | Cap Hit | AAV | Perf. Bonus | Sign. Bonus | Salary | Compensation | Minors Salary | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 30 | NMC | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | - | $5,500,000 | $1,000,000 | $6,500,000 | $6,500,000 | UFA | |
| 2027-28 | 31 | NMC | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | - | $5,500,000 | $1,000,000 | $6,500,000 | $6,500,000 | UFA | |
| 2028-29 | 32 | NMC | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | - | $5,200,000 | $1,000,000 | $6,200,000 | $6,200,000 | UFA | |
| 2029-30 | 33 | NMC | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | - | $4,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | UFA | |
| 2030-31 | 34 | NMC | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | - | $3,100,000 | $1,000,000 | $4,100,000 | $4,100,000 | UFA | |
| 2031-32 | 35 | M-NTC | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | - | $2,900,000 | $1,000,000 | $3,900,000 | $3,900,000 | UFA | |
| 2032-33 | 36 | M-NTC | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | - | $2,900,000 | $1,000,000 | $3,900,000 | $3,900,000 | UFA | |
| 2033-34 | 37 | M-NTC | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | - | $2,900,000 | $1,000,000 | $3,900,000 | $3,900,000 | UFA | |
| Total | - | $32,000,000 | $8,000,000 | $40,000,000 | $40,000,000 |
Niko Mikkola signed a $1,900,000 1-year contract with the St. Louis Blues and General Manager Doug Armstrong on September 17, 2022 with an AAV of $1,900,000. This contract will start in 2022-23 and end after the 2022-23 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 2.30% of the salary cap.
Standard Contract (UFA) ( ) (0 ratings)
| Season | Age* | Clause | Cap Hit | AAV | Perf. Bonus | Sign. Bonus | Salary | Compensation | Minors Salary | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 26 | $1,900,000 | $1,900,000 | - | - | $1,900,000 | $1,900,000 | $1,900,000 | RFA-arb | ||
| Total | - | - | $1,900,000 | $1,900,000 | $1,900,000 |
Niko Mikkola signed a $1,575,000 2-year contract with the St. Louis Blues and General Manager Doug Armstrong on January 30, 2020 with an AAV of $787,500. This contract will start in 2020-21 and end after the 2021-22 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 0.97% of the salary cap.
Standard Contract (RFA) ( ) (0 ratings)
| Season | Age* | Clause | Cap Hit | AAV | Perf. Bonus | Sign. Bonus | Salary | Compensation | Minors Salary | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 24 | $787,500 | $787,500 | - | - | $787,500 | $787,500 | $787,500 | RFA-arb | ||
| 2021-22 | 25 | $787,500 | $787,500 | - | - | $787,500 | $787,500 | $787,500 | RFA-arb | ||
| Total | - | - | $1,575,000 | $1,575,000 | $1,575,000 |
Niko Mikkola signed a $1,685,000 2-year contract with the St. Louis Blues and General Manager Doug Armstrong on May 31, 2018 with an AAV of $842,500. This contract will start in 2018-19 and end after the 2019-20 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 1.06% of the salary cap.
Entry Level Contract ( ) (0 ratings)
| Season | Age* | Clause | Cap Hit | AAV | Perf. Bonus | Sign. Bonus | Salary | Compensation | Minors Salary | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 22 | $842,500 | $925,000 | $82,500 | $92,500 | $750,000 | $842,500 | $70,000 | ELC | ||
| 2019-20 | 23 | $842,500 | $925,000 | $82,500 | $92,500 | $750,000 | $842,500 | $70,000 | ELC | ||
| Total | $165,000 | $185,000 | $1,500,000 | $1,685,000 | $140,000 |
Career Statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | Shots | Sh% | TOI/G | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | Shots | Sh% | TOI/G |
| 2010-11 | Jr. C SM-sarja Q | Kärpät U16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2011-12 | Jr. C SM-sarja Q | Kärpät U16 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||||||||||||
| 2011-12 | U16 SM-sarja | Kärpät U16 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2012-13 | Fin-U18 | KalPa U18 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| 2013-14 | Fin-U18 | KalPa U18 | 46 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 103 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |||||||||
| 2014-15 | Fin-Jr. | KalPa Jr. | 37 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 80 | |||||||||||||
| 2014-15 | Finland | KalPa | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||||
| 2014-15 | Finland-2 | Hokki | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
| 2015-16 | WJC-20 | Finland U20 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +3 | 6 | ||||||||||||
| 2015-16 | Champions HL | KalPa | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | |||||||||||||
| 2015-16 | U20 SM-sarja | KalPa U20 | 8 | 1 | 1 | -6 | 10 | |||||||||||||
| 2015-16 | Liiga | KalPa | 55 | 3 | 6 | 9 | -7 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 1 | +2 | 4 | |||||||
| 2015-16 | Finland | KalPa | 55 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||
| 2016-17 | Champions HL | KalPa | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | |||||||||||||
| 2016-17 | EHT | Finland | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -5 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 2016-17 | Liiga | KalPa | 56 | 4 | 11 | 15 | +6 | 89 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4 | ||||||
| 2017-18 | Champions HL | Tappara | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +3 | |||||||||||||
| 2017-18 | EHT | Finland | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | |||||||||||||
| 2017-18 | Liiga | Tappara | 50 | 2 | 9 | 11 | +11 | 54 | 16 | 1 | 1 | +9 | 10 | |||||||
| 2018-19 | AHL | San Antonio Rampage | 70 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -3 | 41 | ||||||||||||
| 2018-19 | WC | Finland | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | +3 | |||||||||||||
| 2018-19 | EHT | Finland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| 2019-20 | AHL | San Antonio Rampage | 48 | 2 | 12 | 14 | -3 | 24 | ||||||||||||
| 2019-20 | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +3 | 10 | 0.0 | 14:22 | ||||||||||
| 2020-21 | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -11 | 11 | 22 | 4.5 | 14:31 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.0 | 14:40 | ||
| 2021-22 | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 54 | 3 | 10 | 13 | -6 | 55 | 58 | 5.2 | 16:59 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 0.0 | 15:39 | ||
| 2022-23 | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 50 | 0 | 3 | 3 | +2 | 35 | 31 | 0.0 | 16:39 | |||||||||
| 2022-23 | NHL | New York Rangers | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | +4 | 23 | 31 | 3.2 | 18:42 | 7 | 2 | 2 | +2 | 12 | 6 | 0.0 | 14:23 | |
| 2023-24 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 82 | 3 | 14 | 17 | +11 | 69 | 93 | 3.2 | 20:02 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 4 | +4 | 22 | 23 | 8.7 | 18:39 |
| 2024-25 | 4 Nations | Finland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 71:01 | ||||||||||
| 2024-25 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 76 | 6 | 16 | 22 | +12 | 70 | 116 | 5.2 | 20:12 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 6 | +5 | 37 | 18 | 16.7 | 20:13 |
| 2025-26 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 22 | 0 | 4 | 4 | +4 | 24 | 25 | 0.0 | 19:33 | |||||||||
| NHL Career | 350 | 14 | 52 | 66 | +19 | 287 | 386 | 3.6 | 18:25 | 69 | 5 | 9 | 14 | +11 | 81 | 57 | 8.8 | 17:58 | ||