Mikko Koivu

MINNEAPOLIS - It wasn’t that long ago that the Minnesota Wild was the No. 2 team in the Western Conference, and one of the hottest teams in the NHL. But with just three wins in their last 10 games, there’s some reason for concern about the Wild with 24 regular season games to play before the Stanley Cup Playoffs. On the night the franchise retired the No. 9 jersey of former captain and fan favorite Mikko Koivu, the Wild lost to the Nashville Predators 6-2 at Xcel Energy Center.

ST. PAUL — Mikko Koivu almost made it through his whole speech without crying. Emphasis on almost. After more than 10 minutes of thanking everyone that made an impact on his career, the longtime Wild captain locked eyes with his children, telling them, “You are the greatest gift in my life.”

The Minnesota Wild know where they’ll be for the rest of the month. At home. The Wild are scheduled to

(FOX 9) - Former Minnesota Wild Captain Mikko Koivu will once again make history. On Sunday, Koivu will become the first to have his number retired to the raters of the Xcel Energy Center. The Minnesota Wild will hold a special retirement ceremony to honor Koivu at 5 p.m. Sunday...

Former Wild captain Mikko Koivu will make history Sunday when he becomes the first player to have his jersey retired in the rafters of the Xcel Energy Center. FOX 9’S Dawn Mitchell sat down with him 1 on 1 to talk about what this honor means to him.

Mikko Koivu recently tried to explain the situation to his 6-year-old son Kasper. Eventually, Kasper started to get pick up what Dad was putting down. As much as a child can. “So when I play for the Wild, I can’t wear No. 9?” the younger Koivu asked his father.

Mikko Koivu recently tried to explain the situation to his 6-year-old son Kasper. Eventually, Kasper started to get pick up what Dad was putting down. As much as a child can. “So when I play for the Wild, I can’t wear No. 9?” the younger Koivu asked his father.

One of the Wild’s biggest stars over the years was Mikko Koivu. Sunday the team will retire his number and he talks to WCCO’s Vineeta Sawkar about the huge honor as his sweater will be the first to hang from the rafters at the Xcel Energy Center.

MINNEAPOLIS - Mikko Koivu spent 15 seasons with the Minnesota Wild and on Sunday, will become the first player in franchise history to have his jersey retired at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild host the Nashville Predators, and Koivu will be honored at a pregame ceremony slated to start at...

Mikko Koivu has always been a man of very few words. So the fact that he talked to reporters for nearly 20 minutes Tuesday morning spoke to the importance of the moment. Less than 24 hours earlier, the Wild announced that they will retire Koivu’s No. 9 jersey on March 13 at Xcel Energy Center. The ceremony will take place before the game against the Nashville Predators and will surely be met with raucous cheers for the longtime captain.