Panthers sign Defenseman Niko Mikkola to Eight-Year Extension

The Condor is staying in South Florida

Defenseman Niko Mikkola and the Florida Panthers agreed to an eight-year contract extension, the club announced Thursday morning.

The deal will kick in during the 2026-27 NHL season.

According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, Mikkola’s contract comes in at a $5 million average annual value (AAV).

“Niko has proven himself to be a dependable defenseman who uses his speed and physicality to impact both ends of the ice,” said Panthers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Zito. “He was an indispensable piece of our past two championship campaigns, and we are thrilled that Niko will be continuing his career with the Florida Panthers.”

In two seasons with the Panthers, the 6-foot-6 defender appeared in 158 regular season games, where he scored 9 goals, 30 assists and 39 points. A key player on the blueline in Florida’s back-to-back Stanley Cup victories, the 29-year-old had 5 goals, 5 assists and 10 points in 46 playoff games with the Panthers since joining the team in 2023.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion was entering the final year of a 3-year, $7.5 million deal, which was signed ahead of the 2023-24 season.

With this extension, the Panthers have locked up their entire top-4 defense core through the 2029-2030 season: Aaron Ekblad (expires 2033), Gustav Forsling (expires 2032), Seth Jones (expires 2030) and Mikkola (expires 2034).