Former Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen has signed a two-year contract to play with HC Lugano in the top league in Switzerland.
Koskinen, 33, was set to hit NHL free agency, but rumors persisted throughout the playoffs that he was headed to the National League no matter what. Koskinen had a 27-12-4 record with a .903 save percentage in 45 games with the Oilers this year and played a few relief efforts for the club during the playoffs.
Koskinen signed a three-year deal worth $4.5 million in 2019 just three months into his tenure with Edmonton and struggled to be a steady force during his time with the club. Koskinen’s NHL career began with the New York Islanders in 2010-11 before returning to Europe for most of the 2010s.
Koskinen built an impressive career for himself back in Europe, winning the KHL’s top goaltender award in 2015, two league championships, World Championship top goaltender in 2016 with Finland and was the national team’s starting goalie during the 2018 Olympics.
Lugano has some names familiar to NHL fans, including Mirco Muller, Mark Arcobello, Daniel Carr and Calvin Thurkauf.
