A disappointing 2025-26 season for the Panthers, which will result in the two-time Stanley Cup Champions missing the playoffs, has been capped off by a series of injuries. Mikkola has been sidelined for almost two weeks due to a lower-body injury and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. The 29-year-old Finnish defenseman ends the 2025-26 season with 11 points (3G / 8A) in 68 games.
Mikkola left Friday's loss to the Flames with a lower-body injury after colliding with Ryan Strome in the third period. Mikkola went down to the ice clutching his left knee and had to be helped off of the ice. Head coach Paul Maurice has indicated that Mikkola will be out for the next several weeks, effectively ending his 2025-26 season.
Mikkola left Friday's loss to the Flames with a lower-body injury after colliding with Ryan Strome in the third period. Mikkola went down to the ice clutching his left knee and had to be helped off of the ice. Head coach Paul Maurice said that Mikkola will undergo further evaluation when the team arrives back in Florida this weekend.
Mikkola missed his first game of the season in Florida's previous game, a disappointing 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, but he will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 29-year-old Mikkola is averaging 20:22 time-on-ice and has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 55 games this season.
With Seth Jones (upper body) returning from a prolonged absence, Mikkola will exit the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Mikkola has played every game for Florida this season, averaging 20:22 time-on-ice and scoring 11 points (3G / 8A) in 66 games.
Mikkola was limited to only 12:36 time-on-ice on Florida's most recent game, exiting with an undisclosed injury, and was absent from practice on Wednesday. That said, he is expected to return to the lineup on Friday. The 29-year-old defenseman is averaging 20:08 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 48 games this season
Mikkola was limited to only 12:36 time-on-ice on Florida's most recent game, exiting with an undisclosed injury, and was absent from practice on Wednesday. The 29-year-old defenseman is averaging 20:08 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 48 games this season.
Mikkola is not expected to miss much time, if any, but he his status for Friday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes is uncertain. The 29-year-old Mikkola is averaging 20:19 time-on-ice and has seven points (1G / 6A) in 45 games this season.
Mikkola exited Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres early after only 6:53 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. He was back at practice on Monday and will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. The 29-year-old defenseman has zero points, eight blocks, and five hits in seven games this season.
The Panthers have orchestrated another long-term extension to a member of their core, inking Mikkola to an additional eight-years worth $40 million total ($5M AAV). The 29-year-old Mikkola played a career-high 20:12 time-on-ice last season and scored 22 points (6G / 16A) in 76 games.
Mikkola was absent from Florida's Game 4 loss vs. Carolina but is expected to return to the Panthers' lineup for Game 5 on Wednesday. The 29-year-old was having a fantastic postseason before his injury with three goals, five points and a +6 plus/minus through 15 games played.
Mikkola is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Uvis Balinskis will play for the first time since Game 1 vs. Toronto to replace Mikkola on the Panthers' blueline.
The Panthers have regularly rested players over the last two weeks leading up to the playoffs. As such, Mikkola will have the night off on Monday against the New York Rangers. The 28-year-old Mikkola is averaging 20:16 time-on-ice and has a career-high 22 points (6G / 16A) in 75 games this season.
Mikkola has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury on December 23rd, missing five straight games, but will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 28-year-old Mikkola has 14 points (4G / 10A) in 36 games this season.
Mikkola has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury on December 23rd, missing five straight games, but could return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 28-year-old Mikkola has 14 points (4G / 10A) in 36 games this season.
Mikkola has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury on December 23rd, and will now miss his fifth straight game. The 28-year-old Mikkola has 14 points (4G / 10A) in 36 games this season.
Mikkola has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury on December 23rd, missing the past four games. He could return to the lineup on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 28-year-old Mikkola has 14 points (4G / 10A) in 36 games this season.
Mikkola was limited to only 13:26 time-on-ice in Monday's 4-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and will be out of the lineup on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. Adam Boqvist will return to the lineup as Mikkola's replacement on the blue line.
Mikkola had a goal, five assists, 62 SOG, 58 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus through 81 games with both St.Louis and the New York Rangers in 2022-23 and has now signed a three-year contract worth $7.5 million ($2.5M AAV) with Florida. The 27-year-old stay-at-home defensemen will be joining his third NHL team and brings five goals and 23 points with 124 PIMs across 170 career NHL games to the Panthers.
