We’re 9 days away from the first Minnesota Wild preseason game. The number 9 has become synonymous with the name Mikko Koivu in Wild country. The captain is ready for another season, are you?!
Mikko Koivu is a 13 year veteran, entering the first season on his 2-year 35+ contract that was signed last September. At 35 years old, he is still the most consistent member of the Minnesota Wild locker room, and the only man in franchise history to wear the “C” for more than 1 month at a time.
History
It seems so long ago now, but Mikko Koivu was actually the second ever 1st Round Draft Pick of the Minnesota Wild way back in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He was selected 6th overall, but in hindsight has been the 3rd best player selected in that draft year.
Koivu remained in Finland for 3 more years after being drafted, perfecting a 2-way game as a center who could play both ends of the ice. Koivu’s statistical output does not jump off the page, but his contributions to the team were enough to raise expectations for his NHL Arrival. He finished his final season in Finland with a +18 and a loss in the SM-Liiga Finals.
Mikko made the jump to North America in 2004-05, taking advantage of the NHL Lockout to acclimate himself to the american game at the AHL Level. As a member of the Houston Aeros Koivu found a new level to his game, scoring 20 goals for the first time in his career en route to a 48 point season.
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When the Lockout ended, Koivu earned his spot on the Minnesota Wild roster and made his NHL Debut in November. He scored his first NHL goal in his second game, and established himself by playing in 64 games as a rookie.
In 2006-07 Koivu took the next step in his development, playing all 82 games, finishing with 54 points (20G, 34A). He drew attention for his 2-way game and earned votes for the Selke trophy as the league’s top defensive forward, the first of many.
The next season was marked by a broken leg that forced Mikko to miss 24 games on the year. Despite missing over a quarter of the season, Koivu still finished with 42 points and 8th in Selke voting (per NHL.com).
He first wore the Captain “C” in February 2008 as part of then coach Jacques Lemaire‘s monthly captain rotation. The following year, Koivu was named as a permanent assistant captain along with Andrew Brunette for the entire season. He then was named as the “monthly” captain for 5 of 7 months that season.
In October 2009, Koivu was officially named the permanent captain of the Minnesota Wild, ending the 9 year rotation project, and has held onto the role ever since.
NHL.com reported the news, and suggested that this day was “predestined” from the time Koivu was drafted. Given the family lineage of his father Jukka Koivu, a longtime coach in Finland, and older brother Saku Koivu, Montreal Canadiens longtime captain and NHL All-Star, it was bred into him to be a leader.
As team captain, Koivu has led the Minnesota Wild through 6 playoff appearances, and countless roster changes. Nate Prosser is the only other player from 2009-10 to still remain today, and even he left town briefly.
Koivu is the Minnesota Wild franchise leader in Games played (925), Assists (466), and Points (659), Nobody is even within 200 of him in any of those categories. He has a franchise best career plus/minus (+70), and is second to only Marian Gaborik for Goals (193).
Koivu has been nominated for the Frank J. Selke Trophy a total of 10 times over a 13 year career, including a finalist in 2016-17. His durability has been on display the last 4 years, as he has played in at least 80 games in each season despite being on the wrong side of 30 years old.
Season Preview
Mikko Koivu is not going anywhere, I’m saying it now and I stand behind it. The CapFinn of the Minnesota Wild will finish his career with this team, and should do it with the “C” on his sweater.
The #9 should never be worn by another Minnesota Wild player, and CapFinn Koivu rightfully deserves to be the first Wild player to have his sweater hung in the rafters of Xcel Energy Center.
Koivu is the Minnesota Wild’s rendition of a Joe Sakic or Steve Yzerman. The team leader, dedicated to one franchise for his entire career deserves to be honored among those names before who were loyal to a fault.
This season, Koivu comes in as an embattled veteran entering the twilight of his career on a team surrounded by youthful players in the prime of their careers. His primary value to this team is his ability to lead by example, as the last remaining member of the defense-first mentality of the Jacques Lemaire era.
What he has to offer is quite obvious, 10-15 goals and 40-50 points are completely in the realm of possibility. He should be lining up alongside Zach Parise again this year, leading the second line against other teams’ top lines on most nights, and responsible for providing offense by virtue of his strong defensive skill.
The young centers waiting in the wings, namely Joel Eriksson Ek and Luke Kunin, are not so patiently chomping at the bit for a chance to take the spot from their captain. It’s possible we see one of them surpass him over the course of this year, and Mikko finish out his career on the 3rd line.
On a 2 year contract, signed at a paycut to remain in Minnesota, a wonderful career is winding down to it’s close. For a 35 year old center, contributing 40-50 points and solid leadership from the 2nd and/or 3rd line, it is more than acceptable to expect Minnesota to keep Koivu around until he is ready to retire.