Fluorida panthers Has agreed to expand eight years with defenseman Nico MikakolaAnd as a result, at least by 2030, one of its top four defensemen is closed in.
Sources said the average annual value of expansion is $ 5 million.
Mikakola’s new deal, announced on Thursday without financial terms by General Manager Bill Zito, as panthers begin their discovery for three-peat without their two biggest stars. Matthew Offsen is recovering from surgery and is expected to come back around December. Captain Alexander Berkov An ACL and MCL tore into a Presiden practice and made an estimated recovery from seven to nine -month surgery.
29 -year -old Mikakola has found his game with panthers, where he was a major defensive party in each of his Stanley Cup win. He appeared in 46 playoff games in the last two sessions, on average 19:23 per competition. He scored some clutch (if not possible), including game winner in Khel 3 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Final, 3 of the game 3 against which 3 Carolina StormIn 6 -Foot -6 and 205 pounds, the game of Mikakola mixes physicality with strong skating.
Zito said in a statement, “Nico has proved himself a trusted defenseman who uses his speed and materiality to influence both ends of snow.” “He was an indispensable piece of our previous two championship campaigns, and we are thrilled that Nico Florida will continue his career with panthers.”
A native of Finland, was chosen by Mikakola St. Louis Blues 2015 in the fifth round of NHL draft (number 127). After three sessions in St. Louis, he was traded New York Rangers As part in 2023 Vladimir Tarasenko deal.
He signed a contract of three years, $ 7.5 million with panthers in 2023. This season is the final year of that deal; The expansion will kick for 2026–27 and runs through 2033–34. Fellow panthers defenseman Gustav forces, Aaron Ekblad And Seth Jones Already committed to long -term deals.
Mikakola is expected to be nominated in the Finnish team for the 2026 Olympics in Milan.
