Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen excelling in return to NHL after time in Europe
VANCOUVER — Mikko Koskinen always knew he’d return to the NHL.
The six-foot-seven Finnish goalie was taken 31st overall by the New York Islanders in the 2009 draft but logged just four games with the franchise before returning to Europe in 2011. Koskinen thought he’d be back in North America the following season but instead landed with the SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League.
“I felt that I could get better there every year so it was the perfect set up for me,” he said. “I really loved my time there.”
Last season, he posted a 1.57 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage with the Russian team. He also started feeling like he needed another challenge.