Still think Mikko Koivu is a bust?

[Bookman]

So far this season he has:

2 goals and 2 assists in 4 games.

2 shoot out goals.

67% face off wins, to lead the NHL.

He really is playing a good physical game centering the Wild's 3rd or 4th line, and playing on the 2nd power play unit.

There are a lot of little things this guy does well that don't show up on the scoresheet either.

Click to read more...

 

[Metallian*]

i never said he was a bust

i always figured hed be alex steen good, so like top line if not elite 2nd line

 

[bfire]

I was quick to jump to the conclusion he is a bust throughout last season. I watched him play a few times last year and saw some glimpses of talent, but expected more. Now i think he knows that the good players in the league who last, learn the defensive aspect 1st. Now this year he's putting it together and seems like he has great confidence. The coach putting trusting him with the game on the line is an indication of that.

 

[Rattray]

he's having one hell of a year.....Jussi who?

 

[edd1e]

It's too early to say to be honest. I expect him to be a 1st/2nd line center in NHL, but it's another thing to become one.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

I think he is going to turn out to be a Stephan Yelle.

 

[GSK*]

I think he is going to turn out to be a Stephan Yelle.

I hope its sarcasm... Its not a knock on Yelle but he's so skinny and less talented in terms of offensive skillz then Koivu.

He'll be a good 2-way center, like Conroy, thats more appopriate.

I'll trade anyway Plekanec + 2nd rounder or more against Koivu.

 

[Kevin Forbes]

i always figured hed be alex steen good, so like top line if not elite 2nd line

geez, if only Alex Steen was Alex Steen good so far this year...

 

[Lobstertainment]

geez, if only Alex Steen was Alex Steen good so far this year...

Steen's had a bit of a slow start offensivly, he's been playing with Peca and Kilger on the checking line so far as opposed to playing on a scoring line last year.

 

[The Viking Fury]

So far this season he has:

2 goals and 2 assists in 4 games.

2 shoot out goals.

67% face off wins, to lead the NHL.

He really is playing a good physical game centering the Wild's 3rd or 4th line, and playing on the 2nd power play unit.

There are a lot of little things this guy does well that don't show up on the scoresheet either.

3rd or 4th line, eh? What do the Wild's lines look like, anyway? I'm sure they're loaded up what with Gaborik and demitra, and Bouchard. Who are Koivu's line mates?


I'm being serious, not trying to troll, but I realize that this may come off as acting like a tool, but i'm really just curious.

 

[WILDTATE10]

3rd or 4th line, eh? What do the Wild's lines look like, anyway? I'm sure they're loaded up what with Gaborik and demitra, and Bouchard. Who are Koivu's line mates?


I'm being serious, not trying to troll, but I realize that this may come off as acting like a tool, but i'm really just curious.

Gaborik-Demitra-Radio/Parrish
Rolston-White-Bouchard
Weinhandle/Vellieux-Koivu-Parrish/Radio

I hope Lemaire give Koivu a chance to play with Gabby and Demitra sometime.

 

[Chrisd]

wild 2nd line consists of .... bouchard-todd white- brian rolston.

Mikko will eventually usurp tod white i'd imagine, but todd white is a very solid player.

 

[WILDTATE10]

wild 2nd line consists of .... bouchard-todd white- brian rolston.

Mikko will eventually usurp tod white i'd imagine, but todd white is a very solid player.

As long as we have White Bouchard and Rolston we should always play them together. There Chemostry is to good it would be stupid to break that line up.

 

[clefty]

That Jan Caloun sure is a machine.

 

[Ban Hammered]

wild 2nd line consists of .... bouchard-todd white- brian rolston.

Mikko will eventually usurp tod white i'd imagine, but todd white is a very solid player.

Its possible, but there is MAJOR chemistry with White on that line.

 

[The Viking Fury]

Gaborik-Demitra-Radio/Parrish
Rolston-White-Bouchard
Weinhandle/Vellieux-Koivu-Parrish/Radio

I hope Lemaire give Koivu a chance to play with Gabby and Demitra sometime.

Yeah, i gotta think that if he keeps improving they might bump him up to that line. How good is he at right wing, if Demitra stays center?

 

[Wild Thing]

67% face off wins, to lead the NHL.

Holy potatoes, 67%? I had no idea.

I'm not exactly shocked though. I've been saying for a couple of years that he's going to be an elite face-off man in this league, and I predicted before the start of the season that he'll be the Wild's top face-off specialist. I didn't realize he was doing so well already, though.

Koivu's going to be a star in this league, and I think this is going to be a breakout year for him. I don't think he's going to bump his way onto either of the top two lines anytime soon, though. It's not as though he isn't good enough; it's more a matter of who's he going to beat out? The 2 line is pretty much set in stone, barring any unforeseen meltdown, and the 1 line doesn't need a center. You don't want to take a guy like Koivu and put him on the wing, because he's a prototypical center for a Jacques Lemaire team. Center's where he belongs.

What will happen, though, is that over the next season or so the Wild will fill in that 3 line with some better wingers. Right now, you're looking at Koivu-Parrish-Some Other Guy Who's Nowhere Near As Good As Those Two. Next year, it'll be more like Koivu-Parrish-Voloshenko, or maybe Koivu-Parrish-Pouliot. That's a 3rd line as good as most other team's 2nd lines. He'll also be seeing a lot more special teams duty, so between the PP, the PK, the key faceoffs, and his regular shifts, he'll get his 15 minutes a night, and he'll get his points. He doesn't need to be on the same line as Bouchard or Gaborik.

 

[Panopticon]

I love his style. He's defensive, but with definite offensive skills. He's like a lesser Malkin (Koivu might be even better defensively, but I want to see Malkin play in the NHL before claiming that)...