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Mikko Koivu News & Rumors

Mikko Koivu helps Finland beat U.S. in world hockey
May 18
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Minnesota Wild center Mikko Koivu deflected in the tying goal off his skate 13 minutes and 2 seconds into the third period, and Finland went on to defeat the United States 3-2 in the World Ice Hockey Championship quarterfinals on Thursday, May 17, in Helsinki, Finland. Finland, which got two goals from Jesse Joensuu, advanced to the semifinals on Saturday and will face Russia."
Wild turn an ugly night into sudden victory on Mikko Koivu goal 15 seconds into overtime
March 30
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"The Wild are out of the playoffs, drawing fewer and fewer people to Xcel Energy Center and sometimes fighting unsuccessfully to simply match the intensity levels of opponents still in playoff contention. "It's not easy right now," captain Mikko Koivu said. But, after he scored the deciding goal just 15 seconds into overtime as the Wild defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Thursday, March 29, Koivu was in no mood to critique Minnesota's sometimes sluggish evening. "I don't care how you play if you just win the game," he said. If the 16,952 customers at the X were looking for entertainment, they had to sit through plenty of tedious play before the game turned exciting in the final minute of"
A comeback for Koivu, Wild
March 23
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Wild got captain Mikko Koivu back Thursday night against the Calgary Flames, but considering the way this season has gone for Minnesota, it should come as no surprise that the Wild would then lose its top two defensemen during a come-from-behind 3-2 shootout victory. Jared Spurgeon and Marco Scandella were each hurt, yet the Wild somehow fought back from a two-goal deficit to steal a critical point from the desperate Calgary Flames. After Dany Heatley and Darroll Powe rallied the Wild into overtime, Devin Setoguchi scored the lone shootout goal in Round 4 after Flames coach Brent Sutter chose a bizarre list of shooters in Matt Stajan, Lee Stempniak, Blair Jones and Blame Comeau to"
Koivu returning, with pride
March 22
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Mikko Koivu has had possibly the most frustrating season of his seven in the NHL. During the season's most critical time, the Wild captain has missed 15 games in a row and 23 of the past 27. The season is 10 games from being over, yet he's about to return from a shoulder injury Thursday night against the Calgary Flames. What can he possibly accomplish as his team is nearing mathematical elimination from postseason contention? If you know Koivu, team goals, of course. "Last game we showed we can play any team in this league. Beating Vancouver 2-0 should give us a lot of confidence going forward," Koivu said Wednesday. "We have 10 more games to go, and we've got our goals in the room what we"
Mikko Koivu practices; status for next game uncertain
March 17
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"The prognoses are encouraging about three Wild veterans recovering from injuries, none more encouraging than that of captain Mikko Koivu, who is close to returning from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him for 20 of the past 24 games. Koivu practiced on Friday, March 16, for a second straight day without any restrictions on contact. He was to meet with coach Mike Yeo and team physicians to determine whether it would be prudent to play Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Xcel Energy Center. "It would be a game-time decision if Mikko came to us and said, 'I'm ready to go,' " Yeo said. "We want confidence that it's better, confidence that he can go out and not reaggravate it."
Koivu picks up pace in practice
March 16
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The red, no-contact sweater was gone, proof that Wild center Mikko Koivu took another step Thursday. Koivu, out the past 13 games after reinjuring his shoulder, was cleared for contact, and he took the ice at St. Thomas Academy and took full part in the up-tempo practice, including several battle drills. But that doesn't mean Koivu will return to action Saturday afternoon against Carolina. Coach Mike Yeo said Koivu will see how he feels after practicing Thursday, will practice again Friday and then a decision might get made. "We're not going to put him in a bad spot," Yeo said. "This is the first day he's had a chance to get out there and have any battle drills. We want to make sure we"
Koivu cleared for contact, Cullen does not practice
March 15
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Wild bussed over to St. Thomas Academy for practice today, and Mikko Koivu emerged without the red no-contact sweater he has been wearing since he returned to practicing with the team. So what does that mean? Greetings. Kent Youngblood here. I was at practice today, will attend again tomorrow and will have the game Saturday. Koivu, who has been out since Feb. 16 after re-injuring his shoulder, has been cleared for contact. And he went hard today in an up-tempo practice that included some battle drills. "I thought there was a good pace to the practice, and some battle drills," Koivu said. "So it was definitely more fun than skating alone or (with a no-contact sweater)." Wild coach Mike"
Shoulder injury killing Mikko Koivu's season
February 29
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Wild center Mikko Koivu, who has missed much of the past two months with a shoulder injury, is looking at sitting out for an even longer stretch. General manager Chuck Fletcher said on Tuesday night that the captain re-aggravated his shoulder, which he originally injured on Jan. 14 in St. Louis. Koivu returned to the lineup on Feb. 9, but he got hurt again when former Blue Jackets forward Jeff Carter tackled him on Columbus' empty-net goal on Feb. 11."
Wild captain Mikko Koivu sidelined with aggravated shoulder; Wild blanked by L.A.
February 29
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Wild captain Mikko Koivu will be shut down without contact the next two weeks after aggravating his left shoulder injury, General Manager Chuck Fletcher said Tuesday night. Koivu missed his sixth consecutive game Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings with what the Wild had been calling an undisclosed injury. But Star Tribune sources have said for a week that Koivu aggravated a shoulder injury that kept him out of play for eight games from Jan. 17-Feb. 7. Fletcher confirmed that during Tuesday's game."
Koivu out two weeks
February 29
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Wild captain Mikko Koivu will be shut down without contact the next two weeks after aggravating his left shoulder injury, General Manager Chuck Fletcher said Tuesday night. Koivu missed his sixth consecutive game Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings with what the Wild had been calling an undisclosed injury. But Star Tribune sources have said for two weeks that Koivu aggravated a shoulder injury that kept him out of play for eight games from Jan. 17-Feb. 7. Fletcher confirmed that during Tuesday's game."
Mikko Koivu sidelined again in latest lopsided loss, out 2 weeks
February 29
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"n another must-win with its improbable playoff hopes dying, the Wild suffered a painful blow in the standings Tuesday night when the Los Angeles Kings, one of four teams it is trying to leapfrog, skated out of Xcel Energy Center with a 4-0 victory. The 12th-place Wild is now five points behind the eighth-, ninth- and 10th-place teams. "We just weren't good enough," center Kyle Brodziak said. "You create your own breaks in this game. We didn't do that. We didn't create any breaks because we didn't deserve any. We didn't earn any." What's more, one day after one of the biggest locker-room pulses, Nick Schultz, was traded to the Edmonton Oilers, Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher confirmed"
Koivu is '50-50' for upcoming road trip
February 22
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Wild captain Mikko Koivu, who has missed the past two games becaues of an undisclosed injury, didn't participate in Tuesday's practice but skated before the team, coach Mike Yeo said. Yeo didn't have an update as to how Koivu felt, but he said if he had to guess, Koivu is "50-50" to go on the upcoming two-game road trip to Florida and Dallas. Yeo has made clear that the reason the Wild is being so mysterious about Koivu's injury is because he plans to try to play soon and the team doesn't want opponents to target him. The Wild will decide Wednesday morning whether Koivu will travel later in the day with the team."
Wild captain Mikko Koivu out due to injury
February 19
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Wild center Mikko Koivu, who injured his left shoulder the last time the team played in St. Louis on Jan. 14, missed another game against the Blues on Saturday. The team captain stayed in Minnesota with an undisclosed injury, and coach Mike Yeo said Koivu is day to day. Yeo declined to offer many details about the injury or when it happened, also remaining noncommittal about whether Koivu could play today against the Boston Bruins at home. With Koivu out, the Wild moved Dany Heatley back to a line with Nick Johnson and Kyle Brodziak, where he had thrived in late January and early February with Koivu out. Devin Setoguchi, who had scored in three straight games with Koivu on his line, skated"
Koivu's return looking likely
February 9
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Wild coach Mike Yeo and Mikko Koivu stopped short of declaring the captain ready to return, but all signs point to him being in the lineup for Thursday's home game against Vancouver. Sidelined since suffering a separated left shoulder on Jan. 14 at St. Louis, Koivu participated in every contact drill Wednesday in practice and reported no problems. If his shoulder responds favorably overnight, he will return to the lineup. That scenario seems likely because the team placed Jed Ortmeyer on waivers to clear a roster spot. "It's getting better, and each and every day it's getting stronger," Koivu said. "That's a good sign. Being in practice and being involved physically and having contact, you"
Mikko Koivu takes full part in Wild practice, could return Thursday
February 9
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Mikko Koivu practiced today with the Wild as it prepares for tomorrow night's game against Vancouver, but it's still not certain the Wild captain will play, three weeks after separating his left shoulder in a game at St. Louis on Jan. 14. "It's getting better each and every day it's getting stronger. That's a good sign," Koivu said. "Being in practice and being involved physically and having contact, you get more comfortable each and every time it happens. It helps a lot conditioning-wise but more important timing-wise." Jed Ortmeyer was placed on waivers so he can return to Houston, however, so it seems likely Koivu will return."
Koivu scratched again but might play Thursday
February 8
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Although center Mikko Koivu was unable to make his return from a left shoulder injury Tuesday night, Wild coach Mike Yeo said the team is shooting for Thursday's home game against Vancouver as a better option to put its captain back on the ice. Koivu hasn't played since Jan. 14 and was scratched Tuesday after he talked with the coaching staff and decided he wasn't ready to play. He skated Tuesday morning, as he did Monday in St. Paul, but wasn't put on a line for drills during either practice. "He's not quite ready yet, but he's very, very close," Yeo said. "He wants to play, but he needs a couple more days. We're fairly confident that Thursday could be a good target date for us, so we'll"
Top line's success without Mikko Koivu has Wild reconsidering configurations
February 6
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"When Mikko Koivu went out of the Wild's lineup Jan. 14 because of a left shoulder injury, it initially looked as if he had taken much of the team's offense with him. The Wild scored just four goals in three games with Koivu out of the lineup, nearly losing their grip on the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The team hurriedly tried to recalibrate its top line, and without a playmaker next to him, forward Dany Heatley took only seven shots in those games. How long ago that seems now. Not only have the Wild found a way to survive without Koivu, they have a new, better problem: trying to decide if they want to reunite him and Heatley."
Mikko Koivu's return put on hold
February 3
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"After saying Wednesday that center Mikko Koivu might return from a shoulder injury in time for the Wild's game in Dallas on Saturday, coach Mike Yeo backed off that timetable Thursday, saying Koivu likely wouldn't return until Tuesday's game against Columbus at the earliest. Koivu will be re-evaluated when the Wild return home for practices Monday and Tuesday. He hasn't played since Jan. 14, and though he had participated in a pair of team practices the past two days in St. Paul, he hadn't been cleared for contact yet. "I don't expect him to play on this trip (in Colorado and Dallas)," Yeo said. "We can kind of end the questions now." Once Koivu returns, the Wild will have to decide"
Latendresse practices, but Koivu nearer to returning
January 31
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The last we saw of Guillaume Latendresse, he was making a surprise comeback in Winnipeg from a concussion after one practice. That was Dec. 13. The Wild power winger was clean-shaven, wore a smile. His return lasted four periods. Monday, with the All-Star break over, Latendresse once again made a surprise return, this time to practice after missing the past 17 games -- and 32 of the past 34. His trademark full beard was back, too. "That's how we know this will be a real comeback," Latendresse said. "I'll keep the dirty look." Latendresse wasn't the only returnee Monday. Captain Mikko Koivu, who injured his left shoulder Jan. 14, skated hard and shot pucks with Latendresse before practice."
Koivu not ruling out All-Star appearance
January 19
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The NHL has agreed to delay for a few days naming a replacement for injured Mikko Koivu in the All-Star Game because the Wild captain still hopes to play. General Manager Chuck Fletcher said he spoke with league executive Brendan Shanahan on Wednesday. Koivu suffered a shoulder injury Saturday in St. Louis and is sidelined "week-to-week." "Medically, whether this happens or not, I don't know," Fletcher said. "But I never doubt Mikko. Mikko is a proud guy, and in a perfect world, he'd love to play.""
Mikko Koivu likely out until all-star break because of upper-body injury
January 17
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"With Mikko Koivu sidelined, the Wild could be in big trouble. Koivu, Minnesota's do-everything center who last week was named to the all-star team, likely will not be back before the NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 29 because of an upper-body injury, according to coach Mike Yeo. It's a major loss: Koivu missed four games earlier this season because of a groin injury, and the Wild lost them all. He missed 11 games late in the 2010-11 season with a broken finger, and the Wild lost seven of those, two by shootout."
For captainless Wild, postseason is now
January 17
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"It is playoff time for the Wild. This is not a sarcastic comment on the team's position among the top eight in the Western Conference. It is a mindset players and coaches have adopted as the Wild heads into the immediate future without captain and leading scorer Mikko Koivu. Koivu, who was injured in the first period of Saturday's shootout loss in St. Louis, is officially listed by the Wild as week-to-week, though coach Mike Yeo said he didn't expect Koivu back before the All-Star break (Jan. 26-30). But NHL sources told the Star Tribune that Koivu, who was placed on injured reserve, had a separated left shoulder and is expected to be out four to six weeks."
Wild have their fingers crossed on Mikko Koivu's injury
January 16
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Wild center Mikko Koivu was scheduled to be re-evaluated in St. Paul on Sunday after leaving Saturday's game against St. Louis in the first period because of an upper-body injury. And although the team didn't release an update on the captain's condition, the Wild were hoping for the best, even as they were preparing for the possibility that they could be without Koivu for a while. If the all-star center - who looked to be nursing his shoulder as he left the ice - is out for any extended length of time, it would be a major blow to an offense that already has to grind out most of the goals it gets."
Injured captain Koivu could miss month or more for Wild
January 16
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"With the Wild having won twice in the past 15 games and just barely inside the playoff bubble in the Western Conference, it now faces a critical stretch without captain Mikko Koivu. According to sources, Koivu sustained a left shoulder injury during Saturday's shootout loss at St. Louis -- an injury that was being evaluated by team doctors but is expected to sideline the Wild's leading scorer for at least a month. General Manager Chuck Fletcher didn't respond to an interview request, but Koivu left Scottrade Center on Saturday night with his shoulder in a sling. Fletcher is expected to update Koivu's status after Monday morning's practice at Xcel Energy Center."
Mikko Koivu injures shoulder during shootout loss at St. Louis
January 15
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"I did a Podcast Thursday afternoon in the bowels of the United Center with Greg Wyshynski and Jeff Marek. They asked me if the Wild's going to make the playoffs. I told them that if they ever wake up and hear Koivu's been injured the night before, well, run for the hills. Put on your sneakers and start trotting. Koivu suffered a left shoulder injury tonight. The Wild's only calling it an upper body injury for now, but that sling I saw him wearing after the Wild's 3-2 shootout loss to St. Louis tonight was on his shoulder. No timetable offered just yet by coach Mike Yeo, but this isn't good obviously. Hopefully we know more Sunday or Monday after he is seen by team doctors. Since 2008-09,"
Mikko Koivu earns his first NHL all-star berth
January 13
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Wild captain Mikko Koivu, who leads the team in points and continues to establish himself as one of the NHL's top defensive forwards, finally has some national recognition. The center was named to his first All-Star Game on Thursday, making the Jan. 29 exhibition as the Wild's lone representative. He won't find out his team until Jan. 26, when the league names the two team captains who will pick the squads. But with the Wild pushing for their first playoff spot since 2007-08, Koivu's selection is at least some acknowledgement of what the team has been building. "Two years ago, it was an Olympic year, and Mikko had a great year," general manager Chuck Fletcher said. "Clearly, he would have"
Captain Koivu in first All-Star Game
January 13
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Andrew Brunette's reaction when told Mikko Koivu, in his seventh season, would head to his first All-Star Game? "About time," said the Chicago Blackhawks veteran and Koivu's former Wild linemate. "People undervalue him because they always concentrate on the numbers, and for Mikko, he's a complete player. He does everything at both ends. A lot of times we're a numbers-driven league. I'd put him against anybody head-to-head." Koivu's numbers are pretty good, too. After leading the Wild in scoring the past three seasons, he leads again with 33 points in 40 games. He is the Wild's second-leading all-time scorer with 350 points in 473 games. He ranks first on the all-time list with 245 assists,"
Wild lose seventh straight despite return of Mikko Koivu
December 27
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"When the Wild were building their seven-game win streak earlier this month, surging to the best record in the NHL, they were doing it in a way that left most pundits groping for an explanation. Here was a team getting solid defense from a group of untested blueliners, wriggling its way out of first-period deficits without its newly acquired sniper and buying into a suffocating forecheck that, for a while, churned out enough goals to pull away from opponents. Minnesota isn't doing any of those things now, and in a losing streak that's reached seven games - equaling the length of the winning streak that made the Wild the talk of the league - the breakdowns are easy to spot. The Wild's young"
Koivu doubtful for Wild's game at Edmonton; Taffe recalled
December 22
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Koivu will be placed on injured reserve so they can recall a to-be-determined player. However, because it's retroactive to last Wednesday, if Koivu feels he can play vs. the Oilers, he can be activated and a player can be reassigned. Jeff Taffe is the recall. He had two assists, plus-3 and four shots in the last 2 Wild wins. Wild captain Mikko Koivu will likely miss a fourth straight game Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers. Koivu is officially listed as doubtful, but the Wild may very well recall a forward."
Mikko Koivu looks strong in workout, may play against Calgary on Tuesday
December 20
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Mikko Koivu sat out his second game because of a leg injury Monday, but it was no day off. Koivu, Justin Falk and Chad Rau got a big dose of extra drills from assistant coach Darryl Sydor after the Wild's morning skate at the Rogers Center. All three missed Monday night's game against the Vancouver Canucks, Falk and Rau as healthy scratches. Wild coach Mike Yeo says players working their way back into the lineup for his team will wish they were playing because they will receive plenty of additional training when they aren't. Koivu was hurt near the end of overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks last week. Yeo said the team captain might be able to play tonight when Minnesota takes on the"
Wild problems mounting? Captain Mikko Koivu injured
December 15
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Wild could be down four top-6 forwards. I just watched the replay of last night's game trying to figure out why captain Mikko Koivu, whose 25 shootout goals are three from the most all-time in the NHL, was not in the shootout last night. I watched all his third period shifts and overtime shifts, and it's clear to me that on his last shift of overtime, Koivu got injured. It was Koivu who hit Marco Scandella with the breakout pass that led to Scandella's scoring chance. Koivu looks fine as he's slapping his stick on the ice in the slot looking for a pass from Scandella as he circled the back of the net. After Dany Heatley's rebound, Marian Hossa takes off on a 2-on-1 with Nick Leddy."
Koivu 'tirade' never happened
November 24
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Mikko Koivu didn't tear the paint off the wall during a fiery first-intermission speech, but the captain stood up, talked up and backed it up by leading the Wild to a comeback victory over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. "He didn't come in here and give an Al Pacino 'Any Given Sunday' speech," teammate Cal Clutterbuck said. "He just said, 'Let's go. We are better than the first period, we know we're better than the first period. Let's show it.'""
Mikko Koivu erupts as Wild add to win streak
November 20
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"After Saturday's morning skate at the Xcel Energy Center, Mikko Koivu talked about the fact he hadn't been scoring much. One goal in 19 games, actually. But he wasn't defensive, and he wasn't prickly. And the Wild captain has been known to be prickly. Koivu's team is winning, and that's all that matters to the team's top-line center, highest-paid player and reluctant face of the franchise. If the Wild keep playing smart, passionate hockey, he'll get his goals, but more important, the team will continue to win. Both happened Saturday night. Koivu twice tied the score with regulation goals, then potted one of two Wild goals in the shootout to lift Minnesota to its fourth straight victory,"
Koivu and Wild are rewarded with shootout victory
November 20
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"It took 20 games, but Mikko Koivu finally had his coming-out party. With Wild fans waiting patiently for the Wild captain to begin filling the net, with the media beginning to scrutinize and with Wild coach Mike Yeo doing everything in his power to alleviate the pressure by telling everyone he "cares" and "is working hard" and "helping us win," Koivu finally scored Saturday night. Not once. Not twice. But three times, the last being the unofficial hat trick by scoring in the shootout, to will the Wild to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the St. Louis Blues. "I mean, he was so good," said center Matt Cullen, who scored the deciding goal and improved to 4-for-4 in shootouts. "He really"
Wild weighing line changes with Mikko Koivu-Dany Heatley duo sputtering
November 15
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Wild players as well as the team's coaching staff had good and not-so-good things to think about during a day of traveling Monday from Anaheim, Calif., to Columbus. Mikko Koivu likely was wondering where his scoring touch has gone. And coach Mike Yeo admitted he has considered breaking up his $15 million duo, Koivu and Dany Heatley. Although this is a team that defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 Sunday to move to the top of the Northwest Division for the first time in nearly three years, as well as inch into third place in the Western Conference, not all is rosy with Minnesota's NHL team. Start with Koivu, who has grown visibly uneasy with the fact he has only one goal in 17 games and even"
Mikko Koivu's clutch play lifts Wild to OT victory
November 2
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Mikko Koivu has heard all the knocks. He hasn't been scoring goals, and he knows it. But he showed he's still the same catalyst Tuesday night when he scored the tying goal with 1:00 left in the third period, then set up the winning goal in overtime as the Wild scrambled from behind to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 at Joe Louis Arena. It was Koivu's first goal in 20 games, dating to last season. "Obviously, you always want to score some goals," he said. "But I think as long as you're creating chances ..." Well, we've heard this before. Get chances, goals will follow. "Five minutes before, I had an empty net and his hand comes from nowhere," Koivu said of Red Wings goaltender Jimmy"
Minnesota Wild's No. 1 line truly worthy of the status
October 7
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 columnist Bruce Brothers
"Goaltender Josh Harding and winger Dany Heatley stood head to head near the end of a recent Wild practice. A whistle had sounded and most players skated toward the sideboards for a water break, but not Harding and Heatley. The puck was on Heatley's stick. Harding crouched in front of Heatley, the glove on his right hand at the ready. Heatley deftly slid the puck to his right, to his left, back to his right and back to his left. He whipped a bull's-eye of a shot under Harding's glove and into the corner of the net. Then both players glided over to the water bottles, Harding delivering a little rap on Heatley's shin pads with his big goalie stick in mock frustration. "He has some good"
Desire to win burns in Wild captain Koivu
September 22
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Mikko Koivu got a big taste of what it's like to celebrate the pinnacle of success this offseason. A hundred thousand hockey fanatics flooded downtown for one gargantuan party to celebrate the championship of a team Koivu captained. Koivu was treated like royalty, getting to twirl with the president on stage, and getting to address the screaming, crying, drinking crowd that considered him the king of heroes. Unfortunately for Wild fans, this gala took place across the Atlantic in Helsinki, Finland, rather than on the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul. In May, Koivu helped lead Finland to its first world championship in 16 years. "I think people here don't understand how big a deal it is"
Mikko Koivu fulfilling Finnish military commitment
April 20
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu is addressing obligatory Finnish military service. "I'm aware of it," Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher said from Germany today. "He's fulfilling a commitment over there that he has to fill." Fletcher said he talked to Koivu when both were in the Twin Cities and Koivu told him his military service "wouldn't interfere, obviously, with his ability to play for us next year." Koivu, 28, signed up for six months of service in the Finnish Army on Tuesday, starting his service at the Lahti sports school. Koivu did not return a phone message inquiring about his service status. Under Finnish law, young men must complete at least six months of military service"
Wild's losing streak is 'a serious situation,' Mikko Koivu says
March 27
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Forget about the game, Wild captain Mikko Koivu said after his team suffered its eighth consecutive loss, then ignored the NHL's five-minute cool-down rule and sat through a 30-minute closed-door meeting with coaches. "I think we're talking about a lot more than just the game right now," Koivu said. "It's the bigger picture right now." Koivu, often defensive about his team after a loss, stood in the middle of his team's dressing room following a 6-3 drubbing at the hands of the St. Louis Blues and talked openly about the magnitude of Minnesota going 0-7-1 over its past eight games, its worst winless streak in nine years. "It's serious; it's a serious situation," he said. "I know it's a"
Wild are 0-3 on crucial road trip, but returning star Mikko Koivu says, 'We can turn this around'
March 16
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"On the most significant road trip of the season, with a playoff berth hanging in the balance, the Wild's scoring has gone missing, the defense has fallen apart and the goaltending has given up an ugly goal each night. Timing is everything, and the Wild have timed this all wrong. They could not have picked a worse time to set out on such a difficult four-game road trip, one referred to a week ago by reinjured winger Guillaume Latendresse as "maybe the hardest road trip you can figure out. Four great teams." So far: 0-3. They could not have picked a worse time to have captain Mikko Koivu sidelined by injury. Koivu missed back-to-back 4-0 losses at Nashville and Dallas before returning at"
Koivu's back, and so is his line's production
March 15
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Maybe the two most excited Wild players to see Mikko Koivu back in the lineup Monday night against the Vancouver Canucks were Andrew Brunette and Antti Miettinen. Koivu's linemates have been lost souls since Koivu broke his left index finger on Feb. 18. "When we lost Mikko, we lost Mikko, but I think we lost half of the other players, too," coach Todd Richards said, referring to how he had to experiment with different centers between slumping Brunette and Miettinen. "You're trying different guys out to get the same output from those other two, and it just wasn't the right match for whatever reason. So now getting Mikko back, hopefully it elevates the play of the other two." That's exactly"
Injured starters Mikko Koivu and Guillaume Latendresse close to returning for Wild
March 8
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"The sudden return of Mikko Koivu to practice and the bombshell from coach Todd Richards that winger Guillaume Latendresse could "maybe" play this week created a stir at Wild practice Monday. Richards, however, was being coy. Koivu has not been cleared for battle drills in practice yet, so he will not be available tonight when the Wild play the Colorado Avalanche in another in a series of what Richards calls "critical games" at the Xcel Energy Center. And Latendresse? "Tomorrow, maybe," Richards repeated. "On the road trip, maybe. He's getting closer." Tomorrow, maybe? Against the Avs? "Maybe," Richards said, noting that's what he tells his kids "when they ask if they can go to Dairy"
Koivu's back (at practice); will Wild run out of time?
March 8
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"On the day Mikko Koivu was welcomed back to practice, the bigger news might have been that Guillaume Latendresse is "close" to returning to the Wild's lineup. "He's getting closer," coach Todd Richards said. "[Tuesday], maybe. On the road trip, maybe." Yes, Richards said that the big, hulking power forward's return to the Wild's lineup as soon as Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche is a "maybe." Latendresse wasn't that committal. If he is that close to returning, the public will have to wait until Tuesday morning to find out. "It's day-to-day to week-to-week," he said, laughing. "Can be [Tuesday], can be in two weeks. We don't know. We're going to make a decision everybody together, but"
Koivu practicing with the Wild
March 7
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"With the Wild sitting in 9th place -- one point behind the Los Angeles Kings, the Wild welcomed back captain Mikko Koivu to practice this morning at Xcel Energy Center. Koivu was scheduled to see a hand specialist early this morning, so clearly that appointment went well. The Wild is 3-3-2 without Koivu in the lineup since he broke his finger. Hopefully we learn a further timetable regarding his return after practice, but the Wild hosts Colorado tomorrow before embarking on a huge four-game road trip to Nashville, Dallas, Vancouver and San Jose."
Koivu calls timing of broken finger 'probably the worst it can be'
February 23
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu said he is "obviously frustrated" about breaking his left index finger Friday night, with the team in the playoff race. "We're right in the middle, and things are going good," Koivu said today at the Xcel Energy Center in his first public comments since the injury. "Everybody's having fun and playing hard for each other, so the timing is probably the worst it can be. That's what makes it tough." Koivu will not need surgery. He declined to predict when he will return to the lineup, saying he plans to keep working out and will play again when he's able to grip a stick, take faceoffs and shoot the puck."
Mikko Koivu out with a broken finger, but Minnesota Wild won't trade to fill his spot
February 22
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"The Wild, hanging onto a playoff perch by a thread and missing their captain and leader for the foreseeable future, have no intention of bolstering their lineup for the final 23 games with a trade, general manager Chuck Fletcher says. With Minnesota tied for seventh place in the Western Conference on Monday and the NHL trade deadline a week away, Fletcher said, "I can't overstate this: The team has a real good chemistry right now. We play hard every night; we find ways to achieve every night. The answer isn't always to go outside your group and bring people in that haven't been a part of everything this group has gone through." Whatever happens, the Wild will need to make a run at playoff"
Broken finger to sideline Koivu for at least three weeks
February 21
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Life without Mikko Koivu began Sunday for the Wild. The team expects to learn more Monday regarding the status of its captain, but according to multiple sources, Koivu has a broken left index finger that might require surgery. Koivu will be seen Monday by a hand specialist in order to find out if there's damage beyond what's simply shown on X-ray and to determine the best course of treatment. The early word, sources said, is that Koivu will miss at least three weeks. If he undergoes surgery, sources said he should still return before the regular season ends. "Mikko's been helping us in every game," goalie Niklas Backstrom said. "We want to step up and help him and make sure we're still in"
Wild's Koivu leaves game after apparent hand injury
February 19
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Wild captain Mikko Koivu, who scored the tying goal on a brilliant individual effort in the first period of Friday night's Wild-Anaheim Ducks game at the Xcel Energy Center, stopped a shot with his hand later in the period and did not return. After Anaheim took a 1-0 lead at 3:30 of the first period, Koivu bulled his way to the net from the right corner, cut in front and jammed the puck at Ducks goalie Curtis McElhinney. An instant after McElhinney made the save, Koivu jammed in the rebound to tie the score at 5:01. Two minutes later, Koivu blocked a shot by the Ducks' Andy Sutton and left the ice, headed for the dressing room. It was later announced, after the Wild took a 4-1 lead through"