Wild set to retire first number in franchise history

For the first time in franchise history, the Minnesota Wild are set to retire a players' number to the rafters.

Earlier today the Wild announced that they will retire long-time captain Mikko Koivu's #9 in a special pre-game ceremony on Sunday, March 13.

Koivu retired after just seven games with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, but had played 15 seasons with the Wild previous to that, including 11 seasons as the team's captain. He holds several franchise records including games played, assists and points. 

"We are extremely excited to announce that Mikko Koivu will be the first player in team history to have his jersey retired," said Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold in a prepared statement. "Mikko did so many great things for our organization on the ice and in our community during his 15-year career here. He truly deserves this honor and I look forward to celebrating this historic moment with his family and all our passionate fans at Xcel Energy Center on March 13."

"No one worked harder than Mikko during his time with the Minnesota Wild," said Wild General Manger Bill Guerin in the same statement. "He was a fiery competitor and a fantastic captain both on and off the ice. Mikko is the franchise leader in so many categories, but the impact he made in our community and the connections he made with Wild fans, will live on forever. We look forward to sharing this special honor with Mikko and all of our great fans on March 13."

To me, I'll always remember Koivu as a team-first, do whatever it takes kind of player who bled Minnesota Green each and every time he stepped on the ice. If the Wild needed a big goal, he's your guy. If the Wild needed a big block, he's your guy. If the Wild needed a big penalty kill, he's your guy. He was the definition of a utility player over the course of his career and he went about his business in a quiet and subdued way. He was a class act all the way and this is a fitting honor to memorialize him in Minnesota forever.