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Mikko Kokkonen

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Mikko Kokkonen
Born (2001-01-18) 18 January 2001 (age 23)
Mikkeli, Finland
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Marlies (AHL)
Jukurit
Lahti Pelicans
NHL draft 84th overall, 2019
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 2016–present

Mikko Kokkonen (born 18 January 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing with the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect under contract to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] He was selected 84th overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Kokkonen played as a youth within hometown club, Mikkelin Jukurit, before becoming the youngest player in history to play in the Liiga during the 2016–17 season.[2] Following his selection by the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the third-round, 84th overall, in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Kokkonen continued his development with Jukurit, appearing in 39 regular season games and collected 3 goals and 10 points in the 2019–20 season.

In his fifth year in the Liiga during the 2020–21 season, Kokkonen was selected as an alternate captain for Jukurit.[2] He made 50 appearances with Jukurit, adding 1 goal and 10 points. In order to extend his 2020–21 season, Kokkonen agreed to join the Toronto Maple Leafs American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, for the remainder of the campaign on 16 April 2021. He played in 11 games with the Marlies, scoring one goal and seven points.[3]

On 15 April 2021, Kokkonen opted to leave his hometown club, furthering his development by agreeing to a two-year contract with fellow Liiga club, the Lahti Pelicans.[4] He played in 58 games for Lahti, registering one goal and 15 points.[3]

On 31 March 2022, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced they had signed Kokkonen to a three-year, entry-level contract, beginning in the 2022–23 season.[5] For the 2022–23 season Kokkonen was assigned first to the Marlies, and then to Toronto's ECHL affiliate, the Newfoundland Growlers.[6] Kokkonen attended the Maple Leafs 2023 training camp and was one of the last players the Maple Leafs assigned to the Marlies to start the 2023–24 season.[7]

International play

Kokkonen represented Finland at two World Junior Championships; the first in 2020 and the second in 2021, winning the bronze medal in the latter. Over 14 games, Kokkonen scored two goals and three points.[8]

Personal life

He is from the city of Mikkeli.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2016–17 Jukurit Jr. A 38 6 20 26 20 — — — — —
2016–17 Jukurit Liiga 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2016–17 Iisalmen Peli-Karhut Mestis 3 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2017–18 Jukurit Jr. A 14 0 7 7 4 — — — — —
2017–18 Jukurit Liiga 12 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
2017–18 Ketterä Mestis 29 0 9 9 6 3 0 1 1 0
2018–19 Jukurit Liiga 56 3 16 19 20 — — — — —
2018–19 Jukurit Jr. A — — — — — 3 0 3 3 12
2019–20 Jukurit Liiga 39 3 7 10 10 — — — — —
2019–20 Jukurit Jr. A 10 2 1 3 4 2 1 1 2 0
2020–21 Jukurit Liiga 50 1 9 10 20 — — — — —
2020–21 Jukurit Jr. A 2 0 2 2 0 — — — — —
2020–21 Toronto Marlies AHL 11 1 6 7 0 — — — — —
2021–22 Lahti Pelicans Liiga 58 1 14 15 20 3 0 0 0 0
2022–23 Toronto Marlies AHL 36 0 6 6 26 — — — — —
2022–23 Newfoundland Growlers ECHL 8 1 2 3 6 13 3 6 9 10
2023–24 Toronto Marlies AHL 65 5 14 19 28 3 0 1 1 0
Liiga totals 216 8 46 54 74 3 0 0 0 0
Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Canada
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Russia

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2016 Finland U17 7th 5 0 0 0 2
2017 Finland IH18 6th 4 1 0 1 4
2018 Finland U18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 0 3 3 0
2018 Finland HG18 7th 4 2 1 3 6
2020 Finland WJC 4th 7 2 0 2 4
2021 Finland WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 0 1 1 0
Junior totals 34 5 5 10 16

References

  1. ^ "Mikko Kokkonen player profile". Elite Prospects. 2019-01-14. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
  2. ^ a b Vironen, Petri (2 October 2020). "Mikko Kokkonen oli syksyllä 2016 liigan kaikkien aikojen nuorin pelaaja – Nyt 19-vuotiaana jo Jukureiden kokenutta kaartia" [In the fall of 2016, Mikko Kokkonen was the league's youngest ever player - Now at the age of 19, Jukurei's experienced guard]. Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Maple Leafs sign defenceman Mikko Kokkonen to entry-level deal". Sportsnet. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Pelicans vahvistuu neljällä huippulahjakkuudella – samalla julki viisi tärkeää jatkosopimusta" [Pelicans announce new additions and contracts] (in Finnish). Lahti Pelicans. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Maple Leafs sign Mikko Kokkonen to future entry-level contract". Toronto Maple Leafs. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Matt Hellickson, Mikko Kokkonen Assigned To Growlers". Newfoundland Growlers. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  7. ^ Kloke, Joshua (13 October 2023). "Marlies season preview: GM Ryan Hardy on what to expect from 7 key players". The Athletic. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Axel Rindell, Mikko Kokkonen Assigned to Growlers". Newfoundland Growlers. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
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