The Florida Panthers made a lot of waves this offseason after winning their second straight Stanley Cup. They were able to keep Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad before they hit unrestricted free agency. With the preseason wrapping up, Florida inked another core member to a long-term contract. According to multiple reporters, the Panthers and Niko Mikkola have agreed to an eight-year, $40 million deal.
“Niko Mikkola signs an eight-year extension with the [Panthers], carrying a $5M AAV. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champs now have 11 players signed through at least 2030,” The Athletic's Chris Johnston reported.
ESPN's Emily Kaplan started Thursday morning, reporting that the two sides were close. “Hearing the Florida Panthers are finalizing a longterm extension with defenseman Niko Mikkola. Could be announced soon. The two-time defending champs are locking in another key piece just days before the season.”
Mikkola was drafted in the fifth round of the 2015 Draft by the St Louis Blues, making his debut in 2019. They traded him to the New York Rangers before his rookie contract ended in 2023. He signed with the Panthers after that, inking a three-year deal worth $2.5 million per season.
As a big defenseman, Mikkola has been a perfect fit for the Panthers over the past two years. He has earned the $5 million average annual value to be a mid-tier defenseman on the perennial contender. The team has built a strong defensive system, which Mikkola fits perfectly. He'll likely be a Panthers defenseman for the rest of his career.
The Panthers have suffered a significant injury in the preseason, with Aleksander Barkov suffering a knee injury. He will be out for 7-9 months, which will impact both the offensive and defensive ends. Bolstering the defense is key to Florida having success and potentially getting its captain back for the postseason.
