Injury Report: Mikko Koivu - ACL tear, out for rest of the season

[Wasted Talent]

I remember the days when the annual Koivu injury midway through the season killed our playoff hopes.

What's the opposite of nostalgic?

 

[57special]

Wonder if this will be career ending. At 37, I doubt he’s able to skate at the same level after this, and he wasn’t the fleetest of foot to begin with.

He's 35.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

He's 35.

Turns 36 in a month and if the injury is a year-long thing...

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

He's 35.

Pretty much 36, and tearing both the meniscus and the ACL almost garuntees a 9+ month recovery. At his age, it may be longer. He’ll be a few months from 37 when he comes back I was just rounding up.

 

[Olcoach]

Terrible way for the Kaptain to go out. He has been a class act his whole career, and a great role model for professional athletes everywhere.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Terrible way for the Kaptain to go out.

It is, though - he's known for knee injuries. Horrible, but if I had to guess how Koivu was going to go out, I'd say knee or shoulder.

Edit: I'm not going to change this, because I am wrong. He isn't known for knee injuries, but has had a lot of leg injuries.

 

[Olcoach]

It is, though - he's known for knee injuries. Horrible, but if I had to guess how Koivu was going to go out, I'd say knee or shoulder.

I was kind of hoping he would go out by taking a lap around the rink while hoisting the cup. The man deserves it.

 

[NotYou]

Well that sucks. Hope he's able to bounce back ok but man that's a tough injury at his age.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

It is, though - he's known for knee injuries. Horrible, but if I had to guess how Koivu was going to go out, I'd say knee or shoulder.

Edit: I'm not going to change this, because I am wrong. He isn't known for knee injuries, but has had a lot of leg injuries.

So which expensive bottle of booze did you crack open?

 

[NHL1674]

I think that sealed Staal's fate. We're gonna be selling at the deadline.

 

[Minnesota]

Sell, sell, sell.

Hopefully this isn’t a career-ender for Koivu, but it might be a good opportunity for the team to transition into a re-build.

 

[Lapa]

For f***s sake.

Yeah, sell.

 

[BigT2002]

So which expensive bottle of booze did you crack open?

Was gonna say, I even put a graphic up on the first page lol

 

[elnewby]

Darn shame. Mikko gets a lot of crap from fans, but he's a hell of a hockey player. Unfortunately, I think our expectations of him weren't fair, he's a great player, we just never got the right pieces around him where he would really shine. Here's to hoping this isn't the last we see of him, he deserves a lap around the X before he's done.

 

[63firebird]

Speedy recovery Mikko.
It seems everyone on here feels the Wild are in sell mode. Time will tell if GMPF is.

 

[57special]

Get better, Mikko! Let's face it, you're not a guy who relies on speed to be effective. There will be a job waiting for you once you return.

 

[thestonedkoala]

So which expensive bottle of booze did you crack open?

None. Don't know why people keep saying sell. We aren't bad enough to be a top 5 pick team.

 

[TheeNorthStar]

Sell, sell, sell.

Hopefully this isn’t a career-ender for Koivu, but it might be a good opportunity for the team to transition into a re-build.

Indeed

 

[Avder]

All I can say is WELP.

Gonna just shake my head and walk away now.

 

[TaLoN]

Terrible news, the Captain has been the consummate professional his entire career. Couldn't ask for anything more than what he's brought to this team as a player/Captain.

Good luck on the recovery, hope to see you back on the ice next season!

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

None. Don't know why people keep saying sell. We aren't bad enough to be a top 5 pick team.

Well, the idea of "selling" is to become one, I'd think.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Well, the idea of "selling" is to become one, I'd think.

Team has too much talent to sell. Also, given how bad they botched the first round last year and their not so stellar track record (we haven't replaced any scouts, just the guy on top), I don't have a lot of faith with this group. Instead of getting a Mikko Rantanen we get a Scott Glennie

 

[Bazeek]

Well, the idea of "selling" is to become one, I'd think.

Yeah, I'm usually pretty skeptical of this team's ability to drop down the standings, especially with the way the West is this year. But really, with teams like Chicago and St Louis scratching their way back into it, if we can drop past the bubble we might end up pretty low.

Center depth of Coyle - Rask - Ek - ....Hendricks? would go a long way toward that end.

 

[Aurinko]

For me it will be extremely interesting to see how this affects the team.

In my opinion, the Wild have had zero opportunity to play a relaxed game free of all expectations. The expectations have been sky high close to a decade now.

There are some crazy examples, where teams really light up when they can enjoy the game without pressure (for example Islanders & Golden Knights).

 

[Wabit]

For me it will be extremely interesting to see how this affects the team.

In my opinion, the Wild have had zero opportunity to play a relaxed game free of all expectations. The expectations have been sky high close to a decade now.

There are some crazy examples, where teams really light up when they can enjoy the game without pressure (for example Islanders & Golden Knights).

I agree about the interesting part.

I'm hoping this is the wakeup call the players have needed all season. Just getting Zucker, Granny, and Coyle to play "A games" the rest of the season covers the loss of Koivu.

I see Koivu as a governor/rev limiter on the Wild's game. Take that off and 1 of 2 things will happen: you'll go faster and/or it'll blow up in your face. Either result is at least entertaining.