Mikko Koivu

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Koivu began playing for TPS of the SM-liiga as a 17-year-old in the 2000–01 season. He was selected sixth overall in the 2001 NHL entry draft by the Minnesota Wild and continued to play with TPS for three more seasons. Koivu moved to North America for the 2004–05 season to play for Minnesota's AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros, while that NHL season was canceled. He made his NHL debut with the Wild in early November 2005 after suffering an injury in the 2005–06 preseason. In 2006–07, Koivu posted 20 goals, 34 assists and 54 points, though his career-high in goals would later come in 2009–10 when he scored 22. In a game against the Vancouver Canucks, defenceman Mattias Öhlund retaliated to an unpenalized elbow from Koivu and slashed him, breaking a bone in Koivu's leg; Öhlund was given a four-game suspension and Koivu missed 24 games as a result of the injury. Koivu was named the first permanent captain in Wild franchise history on 20 October 2009. He signed a then-franchise-record seven-year, $47 million contract extension on 16 July 2010. On 12 January 2012, Koivu was selected to his first NHL All-Star Game but was unable to participate due to injury. On 18 March 2014, he became the Wild's all-time leading scorer with 438 points in 588 games. On 28 February 2016, he surpassed Nick Schultz's 743 games played with the Wild to own that franchise record. Koivu was named a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the 2016–17 season, finishing third in the voting. On 6 February 2019, he was ruled out for the remainder of the 2018–19 season after suffering a tear in his ACL and meniscus in his right knee. The Wild retired Koivu's number 9 on March 13, 2022, becoming the first player in franchise history to receive that honor. On 10 October 2020, Koivu signed as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets. On 9 February 2021, after only posting a goal and an assist for 2 points in 7 games, Koivu announced his retirement from the NHL.

In Their Own Story

On March 13, 2022, the Xcel Energy Center witnessed a historic moment as the Minnesota Wild retired Mikko Koivu's number 9. He became the first player in franchise history to have his jersey raised to the rafters, cementing a legacy defined by longevity and loyalty. Before this ceremony, on October 16, 2008, Koivu had etched his name in the record books with a five-point performance against the Florida Panthers, tying the single-game assist record with four helpers. His leadership was formally recognized on October 20, 2009, when he became the first permanent captain in Wild history, ending an era of monthly rotation. The following year, he signed a seven-year, $47 million extension that made him the highest-paid player in franchise history at the time. Even after suffering a severe knee injury against the Buffalo Sabres on February 5, 2019, Koivu returned briefly to Columbus before announcing his retirement on February 9, 2021, following just seven games and two points with the Blue Jackets.

Reader's Guide

Koivu played in two World Junior U18 Championships, capturing gold in 2000 and bronze in 2001. He also participated in the World Junior Championships in 2001 and 2002, earning silver medals both times. He competed in the 2004 World Cup as Finland finished runner-up to Canada. He appeared in the 2006 Winter Olympics, failing to register a point as Finland finished with a silver medal. Beginning in 2006, Koivu appeared in three consecutive World Championships: bronze in 2006, silver in 2007, and bronze in 2008. He was part of the team that won bronze at the 2010 Winter Olympics. In 2011, Koivu captained Finland to its second gold medal at World Championships. He was selected for the 2014 Winter Olympics but withdrew due to injury. He was again named team captain of Finland for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Did You Know?

• Koivu's older brother Saku was the longtime captain of the Montreal Canadiens.
• Koivu served in the Finnish Army during the summer of 2011 as a conscript.
• Koivu owns a suite in the Xcel Energy Center, shared with former teammates Niklas Bäckström and Nick Schultz, called M&N's Suite 4 Kids, donated to children with serious medical conditions.
• Koivu married Estonian-born Helena Koivu in summer 2014; they divorced in 2020. In October 2024, he married American social media influencer Natalie Dillon.