Mikkola 8/$40mil

[Pierre McGuire]

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/464 ... ources-say

[moose-and-squirrel]

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/464 ... ources-say

8 yrs eh? good for him! always liked him

[theograce]

That’s a great contract for them.

Hate them

[Army's Mom]

5M for a guy who wasn't out of place filling in on their top pairing is quite a bargain, even if the contract takes him through age 37.

Always liked him.

[STL fan in MN]

I like Mikkola but I think that’s very likely to age poorly.

[Army's Mom]

I like Mikkola but I think that’s very likely to age poorly.

Yeah, but not for 2 to 3 years. By then, they might have 2 to 3 more banners at the rate theyre going...

[LGB73]

Good for Mikkola. He was always a little up and down here with flashes of what he's turned into. Didn't think we stuck with him enough especially when Army himself says it takes 200 games for a defenseman to truly develop. Think that is a very good number for FL if he stays pretty healthy through his career and cap keeps going up.

[callitwhatyouwant]

I like Mikkola but I think that’s very likely to age poorly.

Mikkola is definitely built like a guy that will fall off extremely fast. I think they are signing contracts to try and win 1 or 2 more in the next 3. Eventually that roster will be rotten, similar to the blackhawks. Mikkola is going to exist on that rotten roster at some point and he will be part of the problem.

That being said, another good find by Army, a shame we couldn't fit him into the team. He would have great spurts as a Blue, and then look very pedestrian for a couple weeks. I think it's no coincidence the biggest change the Blues made in all these coaching turnovers was the defensive system.

[skilles]

I like Mikkola but I think that’s very likely to age poorly.

Clearly the owners and general managers have information suggesting the cap is just going to go up,up,up.

Still though age is a factor and while the cap might be predicted to go through the roof the age in which players are the most/least effective is not going up.

[britishblue]

Happy for Mikkola.

Florida are basically doing what Tamp did and signing players to long term deals to lower their cap hits now, and they will just deal with it in in 4+ years when their window is closed.

Fair play.

Plus the cap going up means 5m really isnt going to be a massive issue.

[dr0zombie]

Great contract for what Mikkola brings to a team. He is the perfect second pair guy. And he can play solid time on the top pairing on a cup winning team. Really happy for him.

Panthers really have their team lined up to fight for that Dynasty title.

[dhsux]

Good contract for Florida. Mikko has been/done that for all the teams he's played for imo. This was his best bump though.

Not getting how some are thinking he falls off prematurely but the value is manageable if he falters post age 35.

[Frank Barone]

Mikkola would have fit the Blues quite well right now as our 3LD, but oh well.

Not a bad gig for Niko, $40M+ and get to spend the next 9 hockey seasons in Ft. Lauderdale. Probably better weather than Finland for the winter.

[netboy65]

Never thought I’d see the day where Mikkola gets someone to give him $5M per year. Then again Edm gave a guy like Nurse $9M so PT Barnum was right I guess

[blues2112]

Happy for Mikkola.

Florida are basically doing what Tamp did and signing players to long term deals to lower their cap hits now, and they will just deal with it in in 4+ years when their window is closed.

Fair play.

Plus the cap going up means 5m really isnt going to be a massive issue.

Yes! The actual dollars are less important than the ratio. And long term.

Truly, you should post more often. This Forum has gone goofy last couple months or so.

[Chris2fer]

I think the Panthers are playing the long game with the prestige nursing home market. They are using the fans to pay old guys tons of money until they retire in Florida and basically get all that back anyways, haha.

/s