Former Rangers defenseman's excellent post-season proves Chris Drury made the wrong move
Photo credit: Matt Slocum/AP
The Florida Panthers are salivating at the thought of another Stanley Cup win, and they have GM Chris Drury to thank for delivering defenseman Niko Mikkola to their organization. Mikkola is a reliable defenseman for the Panthers and a key piece in the playoffs.
Niko Mikkola is just one building block of the Panthers team, which won a punishing Stanley Cup Finals last season that went to game 7.
Mikkola has it all when it comes to skills and tangibles on the ice. He's physical, can move a puck, and comes in clutch when the team needs it.
GM Chris Drury had Mikkola at one point, but at this point, we can consider him a key piece who slipped through the clutches of the Blueshirts.
He arrived in New York as part of a trade with the St. Louis Blues that brought Vladimir Tarasenko here. The Rangers benefited from his play, which gave the New Jersey Devils a hitch during their first-round playoff loss in the Hudson River Rivalry.
However, there wasn't a word of displeasure when the team let him walk in free agency in 2023.
Mikkola wasn't tagged as a minutes-eating defenseman and a high-level contributor. For Maurice and the Panthers, it felt as if they were lucky to land him.
«The scouts are now saying 'we knew it all along,' and they deserve all the credit for that pickup. But his game has developed.
We play a pretty simple game and he has a very strong hockey IQ,» Maurice explained before their Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes began this past week.
We play a pretty simple game and he has a very strong hockey IQ,» Maurice explained before their Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes began this past week.
Bill Zito and the Panthers would benefit from Mikkola's team-friendly deal, paying him $2.5 million AAV over three years.
«He is prototypical for our game and what we would like on our blue line,'' Maurice explained. «And that is, make your read as fast as you can, and close as much ice as you can. He is really built to play in our system.''
Now, the Rangers are paying after the fact by letting him go. During the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, he'd punish them by using his physicality to create chaos on the ice.
His long reach would be an issue, and his ability to create breakouts with his outlet passes would be a problem.
The problem that started it all? GM Chris Drury let him walk.
Mikkola would be a key piece in defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the NHL playoffs. Also, he'd help neutralize the Maple Leafs in 7 games after coming from a 2-0 deficit.
On Saturday, he'd put his offensive skills to use, scoring two goals in a 6-2 win over the Hurricanes, proving he's not a one-dimensional player.
| POLL | ||
MAI 25 | 1117 ANSWERS Former Rangers defenseman's excellent post-season proves Chris Drury made the wrong move Should GM Chris Drury of the New York Rangers have signed defenseman Niko Mikkola instead of letting him walk? | ||
| Yes | 928 | 83.1 % |
| No | 189 | 16.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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