Koivu named captain for the 09-10 season

As expected, Minnesota Wild General Manager, along with Coach Todd Richards, made the popular choice, and correct decision, when they announced today that center Mikko Koivu will serve as the teams permanent captain for this season. Left out was the notion that he will serve full-time for years to come, but I would guess that he will wear the 'C' as long as he is employed by owner Craig Leipold.

Koivu was the obvious choice, especially amongst fans. There were however, several other picks that could have been made that would have also made sense. Andrew Brunette and Owen Nolan are two players that command respect, both because of their work on and off the ice, but also because they are seasoned veterans who have had very successful careers. A case also could have been made to name Brent Burns or Nick Schultz as captain as well. But in the end, Koivu is really the face of this team and franchise.

From season #1 back in 2000-01, the team has always rotated the designated captain, and it worked out fine. Coming in as an expansion team, with a new identity, it seemed like a good idea since they really did not have a franchise leader. But that changed long ago and this move was long overdue. With the changes made from the front office to the bench boss, this was one of those things that you knew would crumble, along with a few other things that as of yet, have not turned out all that well (but it's early).

As for the history of who's been captain of this team...by my count the Wild have named 22 different players as captain. Some of the not so obvious choices include Scott Pellerin (November 2000), Matt Johnson (December 2002), and Alex Henry (October 2005). And again by my count, the longest serving captain in Wild history was Brad Bombardir, who captained the team for 8 months and the teams 2003 playoff run, followed by Andrew Brunette and Koivu, who both led the team for 7 months. Hopefully now, the history will change forever and fans can start counting seasons or years, not months.

Along with the Koivu news, the team also announced that serving as alternate captains, on a rotating basis, will be forwards Andrew Brunette, Martin Havlat, & Owen Nolan, and defensemen Kim Johnsson, Nick Schultz & Greg Zanon.

The official release is below...

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009

MINNESOTA WILD NAMES MIKKO KOIVU CAPTAIN

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher and Head Coach Todd Richards announced today that center Mikko Koivu will serve as the team’s full time captain for the 2009-10 NHL season.

“Mikko possesses all the qualities you want your leader to have,” said Richards. “He is passionate, has a great work ethic and competes for everything. The way Mikko plays defines him as the leader of our team.”

Koivu, 26 (3/12/83), has recorded five points (2-3=5) in seven games with the Wild this season. The 6-foot-2, 214-pound native of Turku, Finland led the team in scoring in 2008-09 with 67 points (20-47=67) in 79 matches setting career-highs in assists, points, penalty minutes (66), shorthanded goals (four) and game-winning goals (three) and ranked third in the NHL in face-offs won (857) and fourth in face-offs taken (1,625) for a 52.9 face-off percentage. Koivu also served as the team captain four times last season (October, November, January and March/April).

In his fifth season with Minnesota, he has tallied 189 points (59-130=189) and 210 penalty minutes in 289 career games. Koivu ranks third on the Wild’s all-time list in shorthanded goals (six), fourth in assists, fifth in scoring, seventh in goals and 11th in games played. He was originally selected by Minnesota in the first round (6th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

The team will rotate the alternate captains each game among a leadership group consisting of three forwards (Andrew Brunette, Martin Havlat and Owen Nolan) and three defensemen (Kim Johnsson, Nick Schultz and Greg Zanon).

Great seats are still available for all Minnesota Wild home games including Wednesday, Oct. 21 when the Wild wears its new third jersey for the first time against the Colorado Avalanche at 7:00 p.m. For more information on single game ticket packages visit www.wild.com/ticketpacks.

-- WILD --

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