Mikko Mäkelä

Mikko Mäkelä
Mikko Mäkelä
Born February 28, 1965 (1965-02-28) (age 46)
Tampere, FIN
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Left
Played for New York Islanders
Los Angeles Kings
Buffalo Sabres
Boston Bruins
National team  Finland
NHL Draft 65th overall, 1983
New York Islanders
Playing career 1984–1999

Mikko Matti Mäkelä (born February 28, 1965 in Tampere, Finland) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey left wing. Known as the "Flying Finn", he was drafted in the fourth round, 65th overall, by the New York Islanders in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft.

Mäkelä made his NHL debut with the Islanders in the 1985–86 season. In four-plus seasons with the Islanders, Mäkelä scored 95 goals, including 37 in the 1987–88 season. The Islanders traded Mäkelä to the Los Angeles Kings during the 1989–90 season in exchange for Hubie McDonough and Ken Baumgartner.

After finishing the 1989–90 season with Los Angeles, Mäkelä was traded again before the 1990–91 season. This time, he went to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Mike Donnelly. After one season in Buffalo, Mäkelä returned to Europe, spending two-plus seasons playing in his native Finland and one in Sweden.

Mäkelä returned to the NHL following the 1994–95 NHL lockout, appearing in 11 games with the Boston Bruins during the shortened 1994–95 season. Mäkelä returned to Europe for the remainder of his career, playing two seasons in Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga before returning to Sweden and Finland for his final two seasons.

Mäkelä appeared in 423 NHL games in his career, scoring 118 goals and adding 147 assists. He also appeared in 18 Stanley Cup playoff games, scoring three goals and recording eight assists.

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Preceded by
Teemu Selänne
Winner of the Kultainen kypärä trophy
1991–92
Succeeded by
Juha Riihijärvi
Preceded by
Bryan Maxwell
Lethbridge Hurricanes head coach
2002–04
Succeeded by
Lindsay Hofford