Niko Mikkola continues to haunt Rangers during another excellent playoff run with Panthers

[TBone]

Since the other Mikkola thread got derailed by a troll, I thought I'd start another on a slightly different topic.

The last sentence of the column section posted... Do the Blues need to add an agitator to the mix to win playoff hockey moving forward? Someone who really gets under an opponent's skin? The 2019 Blues were sort of an anomaly; an outlier in that they didn't really have a player who was an expert at playing to edge (or beyond) of dirty and pizzing off opponents. Perron did, sort of. Maroon too, but no one like a Tkachuck or Marchand.

This team has Walker and that's about it. Neighbours and Schenn are willing, but not full throttle agitators. Is it a team need moving forward?

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Niko Mikkola continues to haunt Rangers during another excellent playoff run with Panthers

Jim Cerny
May 25, 2025

The New York Rangers sure could use a defenseman like Niko Mikkola. Big, physical, plays with bite, moves the puck well, at his best in the most important games and situations, and affordable. It’d be a nice to have someone in their top four who checks all those boxes.

- clip -

Of course, watching him flourish with the Panthers, and raise his game to impressive levels during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, must pain Chris Drury and Co. This is exactly the type player the Rangers need right now. They had him. They let him go.

The Rangers got an up-close view of Mikkola in the 2024 Eastern Conference Final, which was won by the Panthers in six games. Mikkola punished his former teammates with his physical play, frustrated them with his long-reach (he’s 6-foot-6), quick outlet passes and smart decision making. He also got under the Rangers skin when he flattened Igor Shesterkin on a short-handed rush during the series.

Like Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Aleksander Barkov and now Brad Marchand, Mikkola embodies who the Panthers are.r

https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-y ... e_vignette

[moose-and-squirrel]

Since the other Mikkola thread got derailed by a troll, I thought I'd start another on a slightly different topic.

The last sentence of the column section posted... Do the Blues need to add an agitator to the mix to win playoff hockey moving forward? Someone who really gets under an opponent's skin? The 2019 Blues were sort of an anomaly; an outlier in that they didn't really have a player who was an expert at playing to edge (or beyond) of dirty and pizzing off opponents. Perron did, sort of. Maroon too, but no one like a Tkachuck or Marchand.

This team has Walker and that's about it. Neighbours and Schenn are willing, but not full throttle agitators. Is it a team need moving forward?

---------------------------------------------------------------

Niko Mikkola continues to haunt Rangers during another excellent playoff run with Panthers

Jim Cerny
May 25, 2025

The New York Rangers sure could use a defenseman like Niko Mikkola. Big, physical, plays with bite, moves the puck well, at his best in the most important games and situations, and affordable. It’d be a nice to have someone in their top four who checks all those boxes.

- clip -

Of course, watching him flourish with the Panthers, and raise his game to impressive levels during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, must pain Chris Drury and Co. This is exactly the type player the Rangers need right now. They had him. They let him go.

The Rangers got an up-close view of Mikkola in the 2024 Eastern Conference Final, which was won by the Panthers in six games. Mikkola punished his former teammates with his physical play, frustrated them with his long-reach (he’s 6-foot-6), quick outlet passes and smart decision making. He also got under the Rangers skin when he flattened Igor Shesterkin on a short-handed rush during the series.

Like Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Aleksander Barkov and now Brad Marchand, Mikkola embodies who the Panthers are.r

https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-y ... e_vignette

happy for him.. really liked him when he was here

[SameOldBlues]

Definitely need as many large Aholes who arent afraid to walk the line and sometimes cross the line on this team, theyve just got to be able to play and put up some points too. Nastyness and intimidation works in the playoffs tho. Now that some time has lapsed since the Blues choked away what should’ve been a first round upset, I can see that the Jets were the more talented team, but the equalizer was the Blues willingness to play big boy hockey and get under the skin of the Jets and hitting everything that moved. They’re on the right track I think.

[Harry York 37]

Definitely need as many large Aholes who arent afraid to walk the line and sometimes cross the line on this team, theyve just got to be able to play and put up some points too. Nastyness and intimidation works in the playoffs tho. Now that some time has lapsed since the Blues choked away what should’ve been a first round upset, I can see that the Jets were the more talented team, but the equalizer was the Blues willingness to play big boy hockey and get under the skin of the Jets and hitting everything that moved. They’re on the right track I think.

I agree, but we need more cold-blooded killers. If we can find one good one, he might turn a few others.
One of the many wise things Army preaches is the “stick a goddanged knife in their EYE” when they are down and out. The 2019 Vlues team could do it when needed. You can’t let a team who is on the ropes even think they have a chance to win the game. They must be kept down and executed.
Then, you pat those losers on the back in the handshake line and teller want a good series they played.
If we had found a way to ruin Hellebuyk’s career… it would have been better for us.

It ain’t easy to win a Cup.

[SameOldBlues]

Definitely need as many large Aholes who arent afraid to walk the line and sometimes cross the line on this team, theyve just got to be able to play and put up some points too. Nastyness and intimidation works in the playoffs tho. Now that some time has lapsed since the Blues choked away what should’ve been a first round upset, I can see that the Jets were the more talented team, but the equalizer was the Blues willingness to play big boy hockey and get under the skin of the Jets and hitting everything that moved. They’re on the right track I think.

I agree, but we need more cold-blooded killers. If we can find one good one, he might turn a few others.
One of the many wise things Army preaches is the “stick a goddanged knife in their EYE” when they are down and out. The 2019 Vlues team could do it when needed. You can’t let a team who is on the ropes even think they have a chance to win the game. They must be kept down and executed.
Then, you pat those losers on the back in the handshake line and teller want a good series they played.
If we had found a way to ruin Hellebuyk’s career… it would have been better for us.

It ain’t easy to win a Cup.

We’re definitely on the same page with that overall strategy and logic…no room for ‘kill em with kindness’ when going Cuppin.

[Harry S Deals]

The Blues were 1.6 sec from beating the Jets in the series and it was largely bc the Blues pounded the shiite out of the Jets derailling a few of their best players. Torop, Walker, Faksa, Neighbours, Schenn, Tucker even CP were all very stout hitting everything in site. Holloway is another human missile in the mix
Blues need a legit 3C and the offense will be deeper and the Blues will be even harder to handle

[DawgDad]

Y'all keep forgetting Sunny.

Hits were spread out up and down the Blues lineup. Notably, the defenseman with the most hits led the team in giveaways by a large margin. I really don't see physical play as a general problem for the Blues.