Mikko Koivu is the lone jersey retired in the history of the Minnesota Wild and for good reason. It’s hard to discuss the Wild’s history without mentioning the former captain. But it’s even harder to envision him with a Central Division rival such as the St. Louis Blues.
That’s exactly what happened on Tuesday when the Blues named Koivu as its European development consultant. Koivu will work with the Blues’ European players and draftees as part of the player development department as the next chapter of his post-playing career.
But at the end of the day, it will be weird to see Koivu in a role with the Blues as a team that was a hostile rival during his career.
Mikko Koivu’s new role with Blues could give Wild fans mixed feelings
Koivu spent 16 seasons in the NHL and 15 of them were with the Wild. He ranks first in franchise history in games played (1,028), assists (504) and points (709) and ranks third in goals scored behind Marian Gaborik (219) and Kirill Kaprizov (230).
Despite the two sides parting ways in Sept. 2020 and Koivu playing seven games for the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2020-21 season, he is remembered as a Wild legend and had his No. 9 jersey retired in March of 2022. But the Blues were a foil that prevented him from adding even more accolades to his career.
The Blues and the Wild first met during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs and Koivu scored a goal and added two assists in a six-game series victory. Minnesota was defeated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in the second round but it renewed hostilities with the Blues during the 2017 playoffs.
While the Wild finished with a 49-25-8 record and had home ice advantage in the first-round series, they couldn’t crack Jake Allen in that series. Koivu was one of many players that struggled in the series with a goal, an assist and a minus-1 rating and St. Louis ended Minnesota’s season in five games.
Putting those hostilities aside, it’s still an opportunity that is in Koivu’s wheelhouse. A native of Turku, Finland, the Blues Koivu was a silver (2006) and bronze (2010) medalist as an Olympian, a gold (2011) and two-time silver (2007, 2016) and bronze (2006, 2008) medalist in the World Championships. He also successfully navigated the transition period of a European player coming to the NHL, which is something the Blues likely coveted for this position.
Given his track record, there’s a good chance that Koivu will succeed in his new role. And the Wild have moved on, looking to make the most out of their current championship window. But it may be something Wild fans have to get used to as their former captain heads to St. Louis.
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