Mikkola signed a three-year, $7.5 million deal with the Panthers on Saturday, per PuckPedia.
Mikkola is the third defenseman signed by the Panthers on the opening day of free agency, following Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Mike Reilly. While he doesn't bring much offensively, the 27-year-old Mikkola is the strongest defender of the trio. The 6-foot-5 blueliner posted six points in 81 games between the Blues and the Rangers last season, adding 151 hits, 106 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating.
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Rangers' Niko Mikkola: Filling in next to Fox
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Mikkola had four hits, a five-minute fighting major and a minus-1 rating in Sunday's 5-2 win over Washington.
Mikkola was brought in from St. Louis to bolster New York's depth on the blue line on the third pairing, but with Ryan Lindgren (upper body) missing 16 of the team's last 17 games, Mikkola has found himself skating on a pairing with 2021 Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox. The hulking Finn has provided a physical presence to complement Fox's skill, and Mikkola has a plus-4 rating through 26 games with the Rangers to show for his efforts, as well as two assists.
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Rangers' Niko Mikkola: Included in mega-deal Thursday
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Mikkola, along with Vladimir Tarasenko, was traded to the Rangers on Thursday from the Blues with Sammy Blais, Hunter Skinner and conditional picks in 2023 and 2024 going the other way.
Considering Mikkola has just four goals in 139 games for the Blues over his four-year NHL career, the Rangers certainly aren't bringing him in to produce offensively. Still, the 26-year-old defenseman should immediately jump into a top-4 pairing, especially after Libor Hajek was placed on waivers to clear a spot on the blue line. While fantasy players are unlikely to be directly impacted by this move, it could mean reduced save totals for the Rangers' netminders with Mikkola averaging 1.36 blocks per game this season.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Stays busy in middle frame
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Mikkola earned a game-high plus-3 rating during Wednesday's 5-2 victory over the host Blackhawks.
Mikkola endured an eventful second period Wednesday. The 26-year-old defenseman was on the ice for all five of the teams' combined goals during a frantic 6:25. The Blues pulled out to a 4-2 advantage during the pivotal time span. Mikkola finished with four shots and a team-high four blocks, helping the Blues capture their fourth win in a row. The bottom-four defenseman has just one point over seven November contests.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Gets on scoresheet Saturday
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Mikkola notched an assist, blocked two shots and went plus-2 in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Golden Knights.
Mikkola had the secondary helper on Ryan O'Reilly's game-winning goal. The assist was Mikkola's first point in 12 appearances this season, though he's more of a physical presence on the blue line. The 26-year-old defenseman has added 28 hits, 26 blocked shots, 15 PIM and a plus-3 rating, and he should continue to see steady playing time with Robert Bortuzzo (upper body) on injured reserve.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Signs one-year extension
Rotowire
Mikkola signed a one-year, $1.9 million extension with the Blues on Sunday.
Mikkola set career highs in games played (54) and points (13) during the 2021-22 season. The 26-year-old figures to garner a similar reserve role during his fourth year in Saint Louis.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Grabs helper in loss
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Mikkola notched an assist and two blocked shots in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Avalanche in Game 6.
Mikkola's first and only point of the playoffs was the secondary helper on a Justin Faulk tally in the first period. In 12 playoff outings, Mikkola added 36 hits, 21 blocked shots and eight PIM as a physical presence. He was likely playing above his level a bit -- the absence of Torey Krug (lower body) required Mikkola to see more of a top-four role than expected. The 26-year-old had 13 points, 109 hits, 81 blocked shots and 55 PIM in 54 regular-season outings. He's an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent this summer, and likely one the Blues will want back on a team-friendly deal to serve in a third-pairing capacity.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Provides two assists
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Mikkola notched two assists, three hits and two blocked shots in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Ducks.
Mikkola had been a healthy scratch for the last eight games, and he clearly played like he had something to prove. The 25-year-old helped out on goals by Vladimir Tarasenko and Pavel Buchnevich in the contest, snapping his personal 17-game point drought. Mikkola is unlikely to see more than third-pairing usage when he's in the lineup, but he could carve out a regular role if Robert Bortuzzo (undisclosed) and Torey Krug (upper body) remain out. Mikkola has 13 points, 57 shots on net, 108 hits, 80 blocked shots, 55 PIM and a minus-6 rating through 53 appearances this season.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Two helpers in win
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Mikkola collected two assists while adding three blocked shots, two hits, two PIM and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the flyers.
Both helpers came in the third period as the Blues broke open a 1-1 tie. Mikkola is emerging as a steady fantasy asset in formats that count a wider variety of categories, and over the last 13 games he's amassed one goal, seven points, 16 PIM, 21 shots on goal, 29 blocked shots, 32 hits and a plus-2 rating.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Offers assist Saturday
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Mikkola notched an assist, five shots on goal, two hits, two PIM and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Blackhawks.
Mikkola set up Oskar Sundqvist's tally at 7:11 of the third period. Offense isn't a big part of Mikkola's game, but he's evolved into a defensive presence in the top four for the Blues. The 25-year-old is up to eight points, 45 shots on net, 66 hits, 44 blocked shots, 34 PIM and a minus-4 rating through a career-high 31 games.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Chips in with helper
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Mikkola logged an assist, four hits and two shots on goal in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Flames.
Mikkola set up a Brayden Schenn goal at 13:59 of the first period. Not known to produce much offense, Mikkola has collected two goals and four assists in 21 games since the start of December. The Finnish blueliner is up to seven points, 37 shots on net, 59 hits, 41 blocked shots, 26 PIM and a minus-7 rating in 28 outings overall. Even if he works into a top-four role, he's mainly a defensive presence and doesn't need to be tracked closely by fantasy managers.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Gets physical in win
Rotowire
Mikkola contributed two hits and two PIM in a 2-1 win over the Stars on Sunday.
Miikola has 41 hits and 22 PIM on the season. With just four points in 21 games, though, he's barely relevant from a fantasy perspective.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Nabs first two helpers of season
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Mikkola dished out two assists in Thursday's 6-2 win over Detroit.
Mikkola assisted on the second of Nathan Walker's three goals, then added a helper on Colton Parayko's game-winning marker. These were the first two assists of the season for the 25-year-old Finn, who also has one goal in 11 games while playing a stay-at-home role that limits his fantasy upside.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Playing Monday
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Mikkola (COVID-19 protocols) will suit up against the Knights on Monday after being activated off non-roster injured reserve, Jim Thomas of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Mikkola will be appearing in just his third game of the season in part due to his stint in the NHL's COVID-19 protocols. Even when fully fit, the Finnish blueliner is far from a lock for the lineup and will likely have to spend some time watching from the press box throughout the year.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Placed on COVID-19 list
Rotowire
Mikkola was placed on the non-roster COVID-19 list Friday.
Mikkola has registered a plus-3 rating through two appearances with the Blues this season. It's unclear if he'll be available for Sunday's game against the Ducks. Robert Bortuzzo or Calle Rosen will likely slide into the lineup if he's unable to play.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Finishes plus-3
Rotowire
Mikkola recorded two hits, a shot on net and a plus-3 rating across 11:57 of ice time in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Sharks.
Mikkola suited up for his second game of the season while Robert Bortuzzo was a healthy scratch. He paired up with fellow youngster Jake Walman, and the duo didn't handle much playing time together. Mikkola, 25, will float in and out of the lineup this season, and he doesn't offer much fantasy upside anyway.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Collects first postseason helper
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Mikkola notched an assist and a team-high four blocked shots in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Avalanche in Game 2.
Mikkola's first postseason point came on a Mike Hoffman tally in the third period. The 25-year-old Mikkola could be in line for more responsibility if Robert Bortuzzo and/or Justin Faulk are forced to miss time after leaving Wednesday's game with upper-body injuries. In 30 regular-season outings, Mikkola had three points, 49 hits, 36 blocked shots and a minus-11 rating.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Back in lineup
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Mikkola (upper body) is set to play in Wednesday's game versus the Wild, Lou Korac of NHL.com reports.
Mikkola was held out of Monday's game versus the Kings with the injury, but he's recovered enough to get back in the lineup. The 25-year-old Finn is expected to skate on the third pairing Wednesday.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Dealing with upper-body injury
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Mikkola (upper body) did not play Monday versus the Kings, Lou Korac of NHL.com reports.
The severity of Mikkola's injury is unknown at this time. He drew 15:01 of ice time Saturday in Vegas and didn't suffer any obvious injury in that contest, but he was not in the lineup Monday. The Finn has just two points in 28 appearances this season, but his defensive presence has kept him in the lineup often lately.
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Blues' Niko Mikkola: Pockets milestone goal
Rotowire
Mikkola scored a goal on his only shot in Monday's 3-2 overtime loss to San Jose.
The 24-year-old rookie opened the scoring just over four minutes into the game, sending a quick shot from the point through heavy traffic for his first NHL goal. Mikkola logged a team-low 10:13 of ice time and the goal was his first point in 16 games this season.
