Mikko Kokkonen

Mikko Kokkonen (born 18 January 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for Linköping HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He was selected 84th overall by the Toronto 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. 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. He played in 58 games for Lahti, registering one goal and 15 points.

On 31 March 2022, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced they had signed Kokkonen to a three-year, entry-level contract, beginning in the season. For the 2022–23 season Kokkonen was assigned first to the Marlies, and then to Toronto's ECHL affiliate, the Newfoundland Growlers. 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.

After three seasons within the Maple Leafs organization, having played exclusively with affiliates in the AHL and ECHL, Kokkonen left the club as a free agent and was signed to a one-year deal upon his return to Europe with Swedish club, Linköping HC of the SHL, on 11 August 2025.

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.

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 2024–25 Toronto Marlies AHL 50 3 11 14 22 2 0 0 0 0 Liiga totals 216 8 46 54 74 3 0 0 0 0

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 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 7 0 1 1 0 Junior totals 34 5 5 10 16