The St. Louis Blues have signed one of their 2015 draft picks, inking defenseman Niko Mikkola to a two-year entry-level contract. Mikkola has spent the last few seasons playing at the highest level in Finland, but could now journey to North America to join the Blues organization.
Mikkola, 22, was selected in the fifth round of the 2015 draft but has quickly turned into an imposing presence in the Finnish Liiga. Standing 6’5″ he may be best remembered for being part of Finland’s 2016 World Junior gold medal club, where he was part of an excellent defensive corps that included Olli Juolevi, Sami Niku and Joni Tuulola. That team, led up front by Sebastian Aho, Jesse Puljujarvi and Patrik Laine (not to mention Kasperi Kapanen and Mikko Rantanen) was an unstoppable force that Mikkola part of.
It’s not clear what the Blues’ plans are for Mikkola next season, but there’s little doubt that he’s turned himself from late-round flyer to legitimate NHL prospect. Though never known as an offensive threat, his solid defensive play in Liiga should have St. Louis fans excited for what he could do in a similar role for their club down the road.