Mikko Koivu

Lore & Background

Koivu began his professional career with TPS in the SM-liiga at age 17 in 2000–01, the same team his older brother Saku had played for. Drafted sixth overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2001, he remained with TPS for three more seasons before moving to North America. He played for Minnesota's AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros, during the canceled 2004–05 NHL season and made his NHL debut in November 2005 after a preseason injury. Koivu was named the first permanent captain in Wild franchise history on 20 October 2009. He became the Wild's all-time leading scorer on 18 March 2014 and surpassed Nick Schultz's franchise record for games played on 28 February 2016. Koivu was a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2016–17. He suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee on 6 February 2019, ending his season. The Wild retired his number 9 on 13 March 2022, the first player in franchise history to receive that honor.

Reader's Guide

Koivu's significance lies in his long tenure as the Minnesota Wild's first permanent captain and his accumulation of franchise records for games played, assists, and points. He was a consistent two-way forward, finishing as a finalist for the Selke Trophy in 2016–17. Internationally, he captained Finland to a gold medal at the 2011 World Championship and won multiple medals in junior and senior tournaments. His career with the Wild ended after 15 seasons, and he signed a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets in October 2020, but retired in February 2021 after seven games. Koivu's number 9 was retired by the Wild in 2022, cementing his legacy as a foundational player for the franchise. He also served as captain of Finland at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Did You Know?

• Koivu was drafted sixth overall in the 2001 NHL entry draft by the Minnesota Wild.
• He was the first permanent captain in Minnesota Wild franchise history, named on 20 October 2009.