Just before the puck dropped on the Wild's preseason opener at Winnipeg, the team announced captain Mikko Koivu has signed a two-year, $11 million contract extension.
Koivu, 34, was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Instead, he will remain with the Wild through 2019-20. The deal will pay Koivu $6 million in 2018-19 and $5 million in 2019-20.
Now in his 13th season with the Wild, Koivu is the franchise's career leader in seven statistical categories, including games played (843), assists (435) and points (614). He had 58 points last season, the fourth-highest total of his career and his most since 2010-11. His 18 goals were the most he had scored in a season since 2009-10.
Koivu was a finalist for the NHL's Selke Trophy last season, given to the league's best defensive forward. He was tied for 16th among NHL forwards with 65 blocked shots, a career best. He also was fifth in the league in faceoff wins (938) and was tied for eighth with a career-best plus-minus rating of plus-27.
