LOS ANGELES – In a study conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2025, it was reported that there were 216 wild condors inhabiting the state of California.
On Tuesday, that number increased to 217.
Suiting up for the Florida Panthers in their 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena, Niko Mikkola, nicknamed after large bird of prey, appeared in his 400th career NHL game.
“Enjoy every day you’re in the NHL,” Mikkola said. “It’s so special.”
Originally taken by St. Louis in the fifth round (127th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Mikkola spent time with the Blues and New York Rangers before signing with the Panthers in July of 2023.
Adding size to the team’s second defensive pairing, Mikkola, who stands 6-foot-6, has tallied 56 points (17G, 56A) while averaging 20:12 of ice time over 230 games With Florida.
In that span, the ferocious Finn also leads the Panthers in hits (453) and blocks (299).
“He plays with such a high energy level and he competes so hard,” head coach Paul Maurice said of Mikkola, who helped the Pathers hoist the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025. “He keeps all the other – certainly Finnish guys -- in check because nobody knows what he's saying on the bench. He’s one of the great personalities in our room.”
In the first year of an eight-year deal, Mikkola will be a big part of the room for quite a long time.
For his teammates, that’s a great thing.
“It's easy to see what he brings – the competitiveness, the length,” forward Sam Reinhart said. “It’s just that hunger and drive to compete and win every battle he's in.”
