THE CONDOR TAKES FLIGHT

Defenseman Niko Mikkola is always talking. “He’s just a fun guy. Hyper intense during the game, and God, he comes back to the bench and nobody knows what he’s saying,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “Even the Finnish guys have no idea what he’s saying.” Mikkola, nicknamed “The Condor” for his 6-6 frame, also lets his play do the talking with his hard-hitting style. In Game 3 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, Mikkola scored twice to reach three goals for the playoffs. His production helped the Panthers become the fifth team in NHL history to have four defensemen with three or more goals in a playoff run.