Blues played with a purpose, checked well, especially in first period; penalty kill gets the job done; new (old) top line comes through in clutch

Back at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the St. Louis Blues selected Niko Mikkola with the 127th overall pick. From there, the left-shot defenseman played his first four NHL seasons with the Blues before being traded to the New York Rangers during the 2022-23 season. In 139 games as a Blue, he had four goals, 20 points, and 259 hits.

After a brief stint as a rental for the Rangers, Mikkola signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Florida Panthers during the 2023 NHL off-season. In his first season with the Cats in 2023-24, he had three goals and set a new career-high with 17 points in 82 contests. He also had 124 blocks and 198 hits.

As solid as Mikkola was during his first season with the Panthers, he has taken his game to a new level this season. In 49 games, he has four goals, a new career high, and has already tied last season's 17 points. With this, the 28-year-old is taking his offensive game to a new level. He is also maintaining his steady defensive play and toughness in the process, as his plus-11 rating and 82 hits effectively demonstrate.

Mikkola's solid all-around play has earned him a spot in the Panthers' top four and on their penalty kill. Overall, the former Blue seems to have found a great fit in Florida, and it will be intriguing to see how he builds on his big season from here.

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