Minnesota Wild to retire Mikko Koivu's jersey number on March 13

    "We are extremely excited to announce that Mikko Koivu will be the first player in team history to have his jersey retired," said Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold. "Mikko did so many great things for our organization on the ice and in our community during his 15-year career here. He truly deserves this honor and I look forward to celebrating this historic moment with his family and all our passionate fans at Xcel Energy Center on March 13."

    He recorded 711 points (206-505=711), 594 penalty minutes (PIM) and a plus-68 rating in 1,035 games during 16 seasons in the NHL (2005-21). Koivu is the franchise's all-time leader in games played (1,028), assists (504), points (709), plus/minus rating (plus-70), shots on goal (2,270), power-play points (251), power-play assists (191), shorthanded points (25), shorthanded assists (15), multi-point games (153), face-offs won (10,354), face-offs taken (19,290), shootout attempts (107), shootout goals (42), game deciding goals (18) and playoff games played (59). He ranks second in team history in goals (205), power-play goals (60), shorthanded goals (10), penalty minutes (592), playoff points (28) and playoff assists (17), T-2nd in overtime goals (5) and third in game-winning goals (33).

    "No one worked harder than Mikko during his time with the Minnesota Wild," said Wild General Manger Bill Guerin. "He was a fiery competitor and a fantastic captain both on and off the ice. Mikko is the franchise leader in so many categories, but the impact he made in our community and the connections he made with Wild fans, will live on forever. We look forward to sharing this special honor with Mikko and all of our great fans on March 13."

    Koivu was drafted by the Wild with the sixth overall selection in the 2001 NHL Draft on June 23, 2001 at National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida. He played the next three seasons with TPS Turku in Finland's Elite League before coming to North America. Koivu spent the 2004-05 season with the Houston Aeros in the American Hockey League. He made his NHL debut on Nov. 5, 2005 at San Jose and scored his first NHL goal on Nov. 6, 2005 against Jean-Sebastien Giguere at Anaheim. Koivu was named the first full-time team captain in team history on Oct. 20, 2009. After 15 seasons with the Wild he signed as a free agent with Columbus on Oct. 10, 2020, and played in seven games with the Blue Jackets before announcing his retirement on Feb. 9, 2021.

    Being an active member of the community, and giving back to those in need, has always been a big part of Koivu's life. From supporting children's medical initiatives in Finland to the October 2011 announcement that he was sponsoring two private patient rooms in the Neuroscience and Epilepsy Center at Children's Minnesota in Saint Paul, Koivu has always had a big impact in his community. He continues to live in the Twin Cities and is a member of Children's Foundation Board.

Mikko Koivu Career Notes:

• Played in his last game with Minnesota in Game 4 of the 2020 Qualifying Round against Vancouver (8/7/20).
• Played in 1,000th NHL game and scored the game-deciding goal in a 3-2 shootout win vs. Dallas (12/1/19).
• Notched 200th career NHL goal vs. Chicago (2/2/19). Mikko and Saku Koivu (255) became 14th set of brothers to score at least 200 goals in the NHL.
• Tallied an assist for 700th career NHL point vs. Dallas (12/1/19).
• Finalist for 2017 Frank J. Selke Trophy.
• Skated in 744th career NHL game vs. Florida (2/28/16) to pass Nick Schultz for most career games played with Minnesota.
• Recorded career-high, eight-game point streak (3-7=10, 10/15-10/30/15).
• Ranked third in NHL in face-offs won (989) and fourth in face-offs (1,791) in 2014-15, setting career highs in both categories.
• Notched three points (2-1=3) vs. Los Angeles (3/28/15) to set franchise record for most career multi-point games (115).
• Recorded three assists at New York Islanders (3/18/14) to become Wild's all-time leading scorer.
• Ranked fifth in NHL in face-offs, sixth in face-offs won and seventh in TOI/game amongst NHL forwards in 2012-13.
• Named to 2012 NHL All-Star Game but did not play due to injury.
• Won career-high 23 face-offs vs. Carolina (10/7/10) and Arizona (12/31/11).
• Tied Wild record with four assists, including 200th career NHL assist, and was a career-best plus-4 in 400th NHL game vs. Arizona (1/2/11).
• Skated a career-high 27:41 vs. Dallas (4/10/10).
• Named first full-time team captain in Wild history (10/20/09).
• Set career highs in goals (22), assists (49) and points (71) in 2009-10.
• Whistled for career-high 12 PIM vs. Tampa (11/28/08).
• Scored a career-high five points (1-4=5) at Florida (10/16/08).
• Tallied nine points (1-8=9) in first three games of 2008-09 season to become first NHL player to record nine or more points in team's first three games of the season since Adam Oates in 1993-94.
• Recorded first career game-winning goal at Colorado (2/22/07).
• Tallied first career power-play goal vs. Columbus (11/30/05).
• Registered first three NHL assists vs. Nashville (11/19/05).
• Scored first career NHL goal at Anaheim (11/6/05, Giguere).
• Made NHL debut at San Jose (11/5/05).
• Ranked second on Houston Aeros in goals and played in 2005 AHL All-Star Game.
• Drafted by Minnesota with the sixth overall selection in 2001 NHL Draft (6/23/01).
• Played in 14 international tournaments for Finland including 2016 World Cup of Hockey (captain).
• Served as team captain as Finland earned silver medal at 2016 IIHF World Championship.
• Led Finland in scoring as captain at the 2012 IIHF World Championship.
• Served as captain as Finland won gold medal at 2011 IIHF World Championship and 2000 IIHF Under-18 World Championship.
• Won a silver medal with Finland at 2007 IIHF World Championship, 2006 Olympics, 2004 World Cup of Hockey and 2001 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Earned a bronze medal at 2010 Olympics, 2008 and 2006 IIHF World Championships, 2002 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2001 IIHF Under-18 World Championship.