Related Topics: Calgary Flames, Mikkelin Jukurit, Finland, Liiga, defender, Mestis, North America, The Numbers
One of the great predictors of the ability to play pro hockey in North America is a track record of playing pro hockey elsewhere. At 26th overall, Finnish defenseman Mikko Kokkonen might be the player with the most pro experience available to the Calgary Flames.
Originally from Mikkeli, Finland, Kokkonen is a left shot defender who’s listed at 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds. He made his pro debut in 2016-17 at the age of 16, playing a game in the top SM-Liiga and three in the secondary Mestis. He spent most of 2017-18 split between SM-Liiga and Mestis, and then almost all of 2018-19 in SM-Liiga with Jukurit.