Minnesota Wild Regular Season Review: Captain Mikko Koivu

Reviewing Mikko Koivu’s Regular Season

Just a reminder that this series of articles covering each Minnesota Wild players’ performance will take into account each player’s contract, offensive production, and overall play using analytics and our perceptions to determine each player’s impact and value to the Wild this season.

Starting from the worst, each article will work its way up until the last article in the series which features the player who, in our eyes, had the best regular season.

#18 Mikko Koivu

Aaron: B+Brandon: DLake: C

Koivu recorded 4 goals, 17 assists for 21 points in 55 games this season.

More from Gone Puck Wild

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• Minnesota Wild reach agreement with Brandon Duhaime on one-year contract
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• Minnesota Wild draft heavy on centers and home-state selections
• Minnesota Wild open regular season at home against Stanley Cup Finalist

Koivu was not as productive this season offensively in terms of goal scoring or points produced but was still a strong defensive center like he has been throughout his career.

He ranked 15th on the Wild in points, yet still had a positive impact this season. Like usual throughout his career, it is the little things that he does that make him so incredibly vital to the team.

Koivu struggled offensively this season, ranking dead last in GF/60 (Goals For Per 60) on the Wild. He also ranked 3rd in GA/60 (Goals Against Per 60), 5th xGF/60 (Expected Goals For Per 60), 6th in xGA/60 (Expected Goals Against Per 60), 14th in CF/60 (Corsi For Per 60) and 5th in CA/60 (Corsi Against Per 60).

So while he was not the most productive player this season offensively, when you take a peek underneath the hood, he had a great season, and luckily his defensive play has kept him as one of the best defensive players on the Wild this season.

The Wild captain may have his last shot at the Stanley Cup in the “Play-In” series against the Vancouver Canucks.

Highlight of the Year

https://twitter.com/NHLsv/status/1201426393399222272

Koivu with the shootout winner via the signature move to make it even more of a spectacular 1,000th game!

All Stats & Information Via Evolving Hockey & Hockey Reference