Another former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect is headed back to Europe. Mikko Kokkonen has signed a one-year contract with the SHL’s Linköping Hockey Club [https://x.com/LHChockey/status/1954898158808437136], the team announced on Monday. The 24-year-old defenseman, a restricted free agent after this past season, wasn’t qualified by Toronto in early June, thus making him an unrestricted free agent on July 1. “It feels fantastic to come to Linköping. I'm really looking forward to meeting the guys and getting started with the team as soon as possible,” Kokkonen said in a statement from the team [https://www.lhc.eu/article/zitat0t-30c01/view], via translation. A third-round (84th overall) pick in 2019, Kokkonen played three full seasons with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, from 2022 to 2025. The Mikkeli, Finland-born defenseman had three goals and 11 assists in 50 AHL games this past season, just below his career year with the Marlies a season prior, where he scored 19 points (five goals and 14 assists) in 65 games. Maple Leafs’ Nicolas Roy Explains Decision To Wear No. 55 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/AP0FeYxTStEji0FG4TR9] Bobby McMann Captains Hometown Charity Game, Reflects On Season With Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/bobby-mcmann-captains-hometown-charity-game-reflects-on-season-with-maple-leafs] Maple Leafs’ John Tavares Stars In Annual Boots And Hearts Charity Game in Barrie [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-john-tavares-stars-in-annual-boots-and-hearts-charity-game-in-barrie] Despite being drafted by the Maple Leafs, Kokkonen never made his NHL debut with the club. Former head coach Sheldon Keefe thought very highly of Kokkonen during the early parts [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/breaking-news/maple-leafs-cut-27-players-from-training-camp-sent-to-ahl-marlies] of the 2023 season, giving him a long leash in training camp before having him take warm-ups with the team in early December. He took steps during that summer, adding plenty of muscle to fill out his smaller six-foot frame, which is what Toronto wanted. However, with the influx of defenders this past season in Toronto, it was difficult for Kokkonen to secure a call-up. Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews To Headline ‘Hockey Night in Brampton’ Charity Game [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/xLwoVU9GN50h7xK1nqRk] Kyle Clifford Retires, Joins Maple Leafs In Player Development Role [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/two-time-stanley-cup-winner-kyle-clifford-reportedly-retires-joins-maple-leafs-in-player-development-role] Could William Villeneuve Earn NHL Call-Up After Signing One-Year Contract With Maple Leafs? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/could-william-villeneuve-earn-nhl-call-up-after-signing-one-year-two-way-contract-with-maple-leafs] Kokkonen’s tenure in the Maple Leafs organization finishes up with him scoring nine goals and 37 assists for 46 points in 162 AHL games [https://theahl.com/stats/player/8715]. He also tallied one assist in five games during the Calder Cup Playoffs. Of the six draft picks in the 2019 NHL Draft [https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr00008490.html] (Kokkonen, Nick Robertson, Mikhail Abramov, Nick Abruzzese, Michael Koster, and Kalle Loponen), Robertson remains the only player still with the Maple Leafs. Roni Hirvonen [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/maple-leafs-prospect-roni-hirvoven-signs-one-year-deal-in-finland-what-s-next-for-toronto-s-other-finnish-prospects] and Topi Niemela [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/why-maple-leafs-prospect-topi-niemela-signed-a-one-year-deal-in-sweden]—whose NHL rights remain with Toronto after the club qualified them in June—also returned to Europe earlier this summer. Hirvonen joined Liiga side Karpat while Niemela signed with the SHL’s Malmö Redhawks. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Why Former Maple Leafs Prospect Mikko Kokkonen Is Signing With SHL Linkoping [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/why-former-maple-leafs-prospect-mikko-kokkonen-is-signing-with-shl-linkoping]
