Sources: Niko Mikkola gets 8 years, extending $ 40 million

Florida had agreed to extend eight years with defender Niko Mikola, and as a result, each of the best four defenders until at least 2030.

The sources said that the extension is an average annual value of $ 5 million.

The new Mikola deal, announced by Director General Bill Zeito, comes on Thursday without financial conditions, at a time when the leopards begin their search for three peaches without their largest stars. Matthew Tkachuk is recovering from surgery outside the season, and is expected to return around December. Captain Alexander Barkov and MCL tort in pre -season practice and has an expected recovery from seven to nine months.

Mikola, 29, found him playing with The Panthers, where he was a major defensive position in both the Stanley Cup. It has appeared in 46 players over the past two seasons, with an average of 19:23 per competition. He also scored some of the goals (if unarmed), including the game winner in the game 3 of the East Conference 2025 finals against Carolina Hurricane. On a height of 6 feet and 20 pounds, Mikkola micoa mix with strong skiing.

“Niko has proven that he is a reliable defender who uses his speed and body to influence the ends of the ice,” Zito said in a statement. “It was an indispensable part in our previous campaign of the tournament, and we are happy that Niko will continue his career with Florida Panthers.”

McCola was chosen from the citizens of Finland, by St. Louis Blues in the fifth round (No. 127) of the 2015 NHL draft.

He signed a three -year contract worth 7.5 million dollars with leopards in 2023 heat agents. This season is the last year of that deal. The extension will run in 2026-27 and continue until 2033-34. Fellow defender Gustav Forsing, Harun Ikelad and Seth Jones has already adhered to long -term deals.

Mikola is expected to be named in the Finnish team in the 2026 Olympics in Milan.