Leafs select Mikko Kokkonen with No. 84 pick
The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Mikko Kokkonen with the 84th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft.
Mikko Kokkonen
Position: Defense
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 200 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Jukurit
Nationality: Finnish
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | 3 | 16 | 19 |
(Stats courtesy: EliteProspects.com)
Kokkonen entered the draft as the 10th-ranked European skater and seventh-ranked defenseman by NHL Central Scouting.
The Finnish blue-liner is a tremendous skater with incredible edge work that doesn't waiver when moving with the puck. His game isn't flashy, but he's strong at both ends of the ice and has the potential to improve significantly.
Playing against men in the Finnish Elite League, Kokkonen ranked second among Jukurit defenseman in points. Internationally, he helped Finland capture the gold medal at the 2018 Under-18 World Championship, contributing three assists in seven games.
What they're saying
"Kokkonen moves effortlessly in all four directions, closes gaps quickly, rarely gets exposed, and is sneaky-strong in puck battles. He looks exactly like what you’d want a modern NHL defenseman to look like," The Athletic's Scott Wheeler notes.