15 Interesting Facts About Mikko Koivu

A two-way center and legendary captain, he spent 15 seasons with the Minnesota Wild where he established franchise records for games played, assists, and points.

Position
Centre
Jersey
#9
Status
Retired
Teams
4
Facts
15
1

He was the first player in Minnesota Wild franchise history to have his jersey number retired.

2

He captained Team Finland to a gold medal victory at the 2011 IIHF World Championship.

3

He was selected sixth overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

4

He spent eleven seasons serving as the permanent team captain of the Minnesota Wild.

5

His older brother was a longtime NHL player and captain of the Montreal Canadiens.

6

He played 1,028 regular season games with the Minnesota Wild, setting a franchise record.

7

He tied a franchise record by recording four assists and five points in a single game against the Florida Panthers in October 2008.

8

He was named a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward for the 2016–17 season.

9

He served as a conscript in the Finnish Army during the summer of 2011.

10

He ended his 15-year tenure in Minnesota by signing a free agent deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2020.

11

He was selected to the 2012 NHL All-Star Game but could not participate due to an injury.

12

He featured on the cover of the Finnish edition of EA Sports' NHL 10 video game.

13

He suffered a broken leg in the 2007–08 season after being slashed by Canucks defenceman Mattias Öhlund.

14

He co-owned a arena suite called M&N's Suite 4 Kids at the Xcel Energy Center to host children with serious medical conditions.

15

He became a minority owner of the Finnish hockey club HC TPS Turku Oy alongside his brother and other former athletes.

About Mikko Koivu

Drafted sixth overall in 2001, he became the first permanent franchise captain of the Minnesota Wild and led the team for eleven seasons. Renowned for his exceptional two-way play, playmaking, and strong leadership, he accumulated major franchise records in games played, assists, and points over a 1,000+ game NHL career.

Career Achievements & Milestones

World Championship Gold Medalist (Captain)

2011

First Permanent Captain in Minnesota Wild History

2009

Number 9 Retired by Minnesota Wild

2022

Frank J. Selke Trophy Finalist

2016-17

Player Information & Stats

Detailed career statistics and background information about Mikko Koivu.

Player Info

Country: Finland
Position: Centre
Jersey #: 9
Status: Retired
Age: 43 years old

Physical Stats

Height: 6' 3" (191 cm)
Weight: 213 lbs (97 kg)
Born: Turku, Finland

Career Stats

Seasons: 16
Goals: 206
Assists: 505
Points: 711
Teams: 4
Drafted: 2001
Round: 1st

Teams & Career

TPS Houston Aeros Minnesota Wild Columbus Blue Jackets

Mikko Koivu played for 4 different teams during his 16 seasons career. He was originally drafted 1st overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2001.