Mikko Koskinen Explained

Mikko Koskinen
Birth Date:18 July 1988
Birth Place:Vantaa, Finland
Height Ft:6
Height In:7
Weight Lb:209
Position:Goaltender
Catches:Left
League:NL
Team:HC Lugano
Former Teams:Espoo Blues
New York Islanders
KalPa
Sibir Novosibirsk
SKA Saint Petersburg
Edmonton Oilers
Ntl Team:FIN
Draft:31st overall
Draft Year:2009
Draft Team:New York Islanders
Career Start:2008
Career End:2024

Mikko Koskinen (born 18 July 1988) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender.[1] Koskinen was drafted in the second round, 31st overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders. Koskinen is one of the tallest goalies ever to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), standing at 6 feet 7 inches (201cm).

Playing career

Koskinen was drafted 31st overall by the New York Islanders in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft after playing for the Espoo Blues in the Finnish SM-liiga. He was the first goalie and first Finnish player selected that year. Prior to the draft, he was the second-ranked European goaltender by NHL Central Scouting Bureau.[2]

On 13 July 2009, Koskinen signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New York Islanders. In the 2009–10 season, his first in North America, Koskinen was assigned to the Islanders affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, to start the year. After only two appearances with the Sound Tigers, he suffered a torn labrum in his hip which required surgery and ruled him out for the majority of the season.[3] On 19 March 2010, after four months of rehab, Koskinen was reassigned to the secondary Islanders affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies, for the remainder of the year.[4] Undefeated in six starts, he helped the Grizzlies reach the conference semi-finals before returning to the Sound Tigers' first-round playoff series on 18 April 2010.[5]

Koskinen made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut on 8 February 2011 against the Toronto Maple Leafs as the Islanders lost 5–3.[6] He earned his first career NHL win two days later in a 4–3 shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

On 12 November 2011, Koskinen returned to Finland, signing with KalPa.[7]

In April 2013, Koskinen signed with the Espoo Blues.[8]

In September 2013, Koskinen left Finland to play for Sibir Novosibirsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Part way through the 2014–15 season he was traded to SKA Saint Petersburg for fellow goaltender Alexander Salák. Koskinen and his team went on to win the Gagarin Cup, the KHL championship trophy in April 2015 and 2017.

On 1 May 2018, Koskinen agreed to terms on a one year, $2.5 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL.[9] [10] On 21 January 2019, the Oilers signed Koskinen to a three-year, $13.5 million extension.[11] The decision to sign Koskinen for three years based on such a short tenure was considered unusual, and many speculated that it was a cause of the dismissal of controversial Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli days later.[12] [13] [14]

After the end of the 2021–22 NHL season and the end of his contract with the Oilers, Koskinen signed a two-year contract with HC Lugano of the Swiss National League (NL) on 13 June 2022.[15] [16]

On 3 April 2024, Koskinen announced his retirement from professional hockey after two seasons with Lugano.[17]

International play

Koskinen has represented Finland in the World Championships in 2014 and 2016. In 2016, he was included in the All-Star Team and was named the best goaltender.[18]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLT/OTMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2006–07Kiekko-VantaaJr. A27168315676232.37.927
2007–08BluesJr. A20124411764522.30.90720281705.18
2007–08BluesSM-l110060010.001.000
2008–09BluesJr. A99005451521.65.930
2008–09BluesSM-l33179719216111.91.93214688563702.59.912
2009–10Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL2110123502.45.902311147702.85.900
2009–10Utah GrizzliesECHL66003601502.50.9244210172103.49.899
2010–11Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL3612211206312003.49.892
2010–11New York IslandersNHL42102081504.33.873
2011–12Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL3020149702.82.909
2011–12KalPaSM-l25135413825352.30.9176323231222.23.890
2012–13KalPaSM-l49211513295310172.05.9195142951012.03.936
2013–14BluesLiiga2101121502.47.915
2013–14Sibir NovosibirskKHL412011823616731.70.93910456072011.98.928
2014–15Sibir NovosibirskKHL291611115645832.22.921
2014–15SKA Saint PetersburgKHL2198212704011.89.9272216613773731.61.936
2015–16SKA Saint PetersburgKHL412018023799632.42.91515879812451.47.949
2016–17SKA Saint PetersburgKHL23146313874832.08.916151219132511.64.938
2017–18SKA Saint PetersburgKHL29224117184551.57.937151059242541.62.935
2018–19Edmonton OilersNHL5525216299214642.93.906
2019–20Edmonton OilersNHL381813321179712.75.9174122091103.16.889
2020–21Edmonton OilersNHL261313014387603.17.899
2021–22Edmonton OilersNHL4527124262913613.10.9033 0290604.04.897
2022–23HC LuganoNL331317018869222.93.9008445311822.03.937
2023–24HC LuganoNL281213016387602.78.9004132371303.29.880
Liiga totals1085229256,316215142.04.9282510141,4745932.40.914
KHL totals184101581510,680354181.99.9267750244,801131141.64.938
NHL totals1688560139,38347063.01.9067142991703.42.892

International

YearTeamEventResultGPWLOTMINGASOGAASV%
2014FinlandWC101058404.12.846
2016FinlandWC8710479911.13.947
2018FinlandOG6th5320297801.62.931
Senior totals1410408342111.52.932

Awards

International

AwardYear(s) awarded
Euro Hockey Tour winner2017–18
World Championship All-Star Team2016
World Championship Best Goaltender2016

KHL

Notes and References

  1. News: Mikko Koskinen player profile. 1 May 2018. 1 May 2018.
  2. Web site: European Goaltender scouting final rankings . . 2009-07-15 . 2010-03-04.
  3. Web site: Sound Tigers notes . TheHour.com . 2009-10-29 . 2010-07-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717010203/http://www.thehour.com/story/477253 . 2011-07-17.
  4. Web site: Islanders assign 31st overall pick Mikko Koskinen to Utah . oursportscentral.com . 2010-03-19 . 2010-07-17.
  5. Web site: Mikko Koskinen likely to start today for Bridgeport . Islandershockeyblog.com. 2010-04-18 . 2010-07-17.
  6. Web site: Resurgent Leafs top Islanders and surprise starter . . 2011-02-08 . 2011-02-08.
  7. News: Garth Snow: No trades on the horizon. 12 November 2011. Newsday. 12 November 2011.
  8. Web site: Bluesille uusi ykkösvahti KalPasta - SM-liiga. https://web.archive.org/web/20130410104311/http://www.sm-liiga.fi/arkisto/blues/bluesille-uusi-ykkosvahti-kalpasta.html. dead. 10 April 2013. 10 April 2013.
  9. Web site: RELEASE: Oilers agree to terms with free agent goaltender Mikko Koskinen . NHL.com . 13 December 2021 . 1 May 2018.
  10. News: Oilers sign KHL G Koskinen to $2.5M deal. 1 May 2018. 1 May 2018.
  11. Web site: Koskinen signs three-year contract with Oilers . NHL.com . 22 January 2019 . 21 January 2019.
  12. Web site: Trying to make sense of Koskinen's new contract with Oilers . Spector . Mark . Sportsnet. 22 May 2022 . 22 January 2019.
  13. Web site: Mikko Koskinen's controversial contract extension was a defining moment for himself, Cam Talbot, Peter Chiarelli and, oh yeah, the Edmonton Oilers. McCurdy . Bruce . . 22 May 2022 . 4 June 2019.
  14. Web site: Oilers' issues extend far beyond goaltending . Cuthbert . Justin . . 23 January 2019 . 4 January 2022.
  15. Web site: È Mikko Koskinen il portiere straniero del Lugano . HC Lugano . 13 June 2022 . it-IT . 13 June 2022.
  16. Web site: Oilers' Koskinen signs two-year contract in Switzerland . Sportsnet. 13 June 2022 . 13 June 2022.
  17. Web site: Former Oilers Goalie Hangs Up the Pads . The Hockey News. 12 May 2024 . 3 April 2024.
  18. Web site: Media All Stars. 22 May 2016. 30 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20160603225322/http://reports.iihf.hockey/Hydra/415/IHM415000_98_1_0.pdf. 3 June 2016. IIHF. live.