Tony Dean: Mikko Koivu: The Love & Hate Relationship with MNWild Fans

Tony Dean: Mikko Koivu: The Love & Hate Relationship with MNWild Fans
- Tony Dean

If the Wild can trade him, that would be great but if not do the Wild have any more compliance buyouts & would Koivu be a candidate???

If the Wild can trade him, that would be great but if not do the Wild have any more compliance buyouts & would Koivu be a candidate???
- Ur Not Me

They have only used one compliance buyout(Tom Gilbert) and I do NOT believe he is a candidate to be bought out. Not sure a trade that would actually make sense value wise with all the things that would have to fall into place could ever be completed.

Never give the "C" to a European.

Vanek will score all the goals when he is on his line.

Great player, should be no hate.

How long until the Vanek signing is announced ?

Solid player making good money. Anytime someone is above $5 million fans/media will focus that much more on each small detail. I can't say that I'd be happy to trade for Koivu at this point, but I sure hate when the Avs have to play against him. I think all teams would say that and that is testament enough to his importance.

Never give the "C" to a European.

Vanek will score all the goals when he is on his line.
- rmiethaner

Detroit and Boston will take this into consideration.

Detroit and Boston will take this into consideration.
- AdamFrench

And Colorado

Nice write up T! As we continue to rehash a now seemingly timeless debate, I agree Koivu, although not any kind of polarizing figure, is still a vital piece of the Wild over all success.

I think really the ONLY aspect of his game that needs to be analyzed closely in ANY considerations of trade talks is his skating ability. He proved down the stretch of the regular season that he was finally back @100%. Although I do believe that his style of play does wear on him through the bulk of the season and even double in the post season.

If the Wild can trade him, that would be great but if not do the Wild have any more compliance buyouts & would Koivu be a candidate???
- Ur Not Me

Would never be a consideration by Fletcher/Wild. Letting Koivu walk now would be more disasterous than when Gaborik walked. IMO Koivu a much bigger part of the Wild success now than Gaborik was when he departed.

I think Koivu is worth a lot more than you give him credit for. I love the way he plays. My only concern is that he is injury prone and does miss quite a few games. If he was on the market many teams would be interested.

I think Koivu is worth a lot more than you give him credit for. I love the way he plays. My only concern is that he is injury prone and does miss quite a few games. If he was on the market many teams would be interested.
- flyerdude17

Edmonton being one.

I'd move eberle plus something for koivu and niño. A deal like that I would personally like.

Great player, should be no hate.
- seabass21

Unless he's playing Chicago. 1 assist in 11 games (last 2 series vs Chi) isn't going to cut it as the captain and 1A/B center.
His skating was poor during the Hawks series, maybe the ankle was not completely healthy but regardless, he's on the wrong side of 30 for someone who has never been too fast. If we're worried about Vanek slowing down over the course of his contract, imagine Koivu's decline over the next 4 seasons.
He's still an effective player in this league and will be for awhile longer, but I believe a player should be more than just effective when making nearly $7 mil. For a team that is built around defense, I don't see the drastic decline that would occur if Koivu is moved. With the way Yeo keeps his d-men from getting too involved offensively and how he preaches that his forwards get back on the forecheck, I don't think one guy is going to affect it too much.
Speed, durability, production, cost. These are my issues with Mikko.
He's been a heck of a player for this organization since being drafted, but is he worth his contract or a spot in the top 6? I say no to both

Edmonton being one.

I'd move eberle plus something for koivu and niño. A deal like that I would personally like.
- ystoil

I love Eberle, but think Niederreiter will be a great player in the very near future.
Oilers and Koivu would be a good match, but I don't think he'd agree to a trade sending him to Edm

I love Eberle, but think Niederreiter will be a great player in the very near future.
Oilers and Koivu would be a good match, but I don't think he'd agree to a trade sending him to Edm
- SotaPopinski

I'm not sure El Nino will ever be quite as good as Eb offensively, but I think he'll be similar only with a lot more physical upside and defensive play.

I'm not sure El Nino will ever be quite as good as Eb offensively, but I think he'll be similar only with a lot more physical upside and defensive play.
- MnGump

Which is what this oiler squad needs.

Which is what this oiler squad needs.
- ystoil

Honestly though, I'm not sure Eb's really fits the Wild roster. Yeo wants offensive production, but first and foremost he wants defensive ability and prowess, neither of which Eberly possesses.

As long as Nino continues to get better, not sure there's any chance they trade him.

Nino has far to much untapped potential to be considered in any trade, especially packaged with a player as solid as Koivu. Even if the Wild were considering trading Mikko, they are not going to package their future along with their present merely to unload his contract.

Fletch was a friggin genius in the Nino trade, no way he turns around and tries to negate that genius by giving Nino up along with another key piece of the Wild franchise.

Honestly though, I'm not sure Eb's really fits the Wild roster. Yeo wants offensive production, but first and foremost he wants defensive ability and prowess, neither of which Eberly possesses.

As long as Nino continues to get better, not sure there's any chance they trade him.

Nino has far to much untapped potential to be considered in any trade, especially packaged with a player as solid as Koivu. Even if the Wild were considering trading Mikko, they are not going to package their future along with their present merely to unload his contract.

Fletch was a friggin genius in the Nino trade, no way he turns around and tries to negate that genius by giving Nino up along with another key piece of the Wild franchise.
- MnGump

I still can't believe you guys got him for Cal Cluttebuck. I'd want Clutterbuck on my team too, but that was a heist.

I still can't believe you guys got him for Cal Cluttebuck. I'd want Clutterbuck on my team too, but that was a heist.
- ystoil

Garth Snow should be unemployed already!

I want to see the Coyle, Koivu, Niedereitter line when they're healthy.

The people that want to see him traded are probably the same people that don't like his shootout move that has been successful as well.

What are you going to get for him? I don't think that Koivu is available to teams that can't give a lot back as much as I think teams aren't going to overpay for him. The issue with having a large contract is that you're going to take one back. The other issue that you run into is if you think he's a contract dump, you're going to get one back. That said, which contract dump are you going to be ok with because that's most likely how a trade gets done.

Umberger for Koivu or Heatley, you eat 2 million off either of their salaries

Umberger for Koivu or Heatley, you eat 2 million off either of their salaries
- Roadkill90

Not a chance.

Heatley is UFA anyway.

Garth Snow should be unemployed already!

I want to see the Coyle, Koivu, Niedereitter line when they're healthy.

The people that want to see him traded are probably the same people that don't like his shootout move that has been successful as well.

What are you going to get for him? I don't think that Koivu is available to teams that can't give a lot back as much as I think teams aren't going to overpay for him. The issue with having a large contract is that you're going to take one back. The other issue that you run into is if you think he's a contract dump, you're going to get one back. That said, which contract dump are you going to be ok with because that's most likely how a trade gets done.
- arvinb316

That is an interesting line that could potentially give opposing teams fits.
I don't see it happening, but I'd be curious to see Vanek and Koivu on a line together. I think they are both very smart players who can read a play and react to it quicker than most players, and with Koivu's desire to pass first, Vanek could have a big year on his wing. I keep thinking Coyle would work out well on the Granlund/Parise line due to their tendency to shuffle back and forth behind the net and along the boards... the one thing Coyle excels at. Either way, the top 3 lines should all be fun to watch in the coming years. Zucker hasn't even broken through and with guys like Bussieres, Lucia, and possibly Phillips (though I just don't see it) a year or two away still, the depth is pretty promising.

Umberger for Koivu or Heatley, you eat 2 million off either of their salaries
- Roadkill90

To say "Koivu or Heatley" means that you view these players as equals, which just may be the most absurd thing I have ever read... and I want Koivu traded more than anyone.
Not to mention the fact that Heatley is no longer under contract with the Wild. I should have just ignored you from the get go

That is an interesting line that could potentially give opposing teams fits.
I don't see it happening, but I'd be curious to see Vanek and Koivu on a line together. I think they are both very smart players who can read a play and react to it quicker than most players, and with Koivu's desire to pass first, Vanek could have a big year on his wing. I keep thinking Coyle would work out well on the Granlund/Parise line due to their tendency to shuffle back and forth behind the net and along the boards... the one thing Coyle excels at. Either way, the top 3 lines should all be fun to watch in the coming years. Zucker hasn't even broken through and with guys like Bussieres, Lucia, and possibly Phillips (though I just don't see it) a year or two away still, the depth is pretty promising.
- SotaPopinski

I'm not sure why you wouldn't think they'd play together. 2/3 were banged up against Chicago and they did ok, albeit not on the score sheet.

Throwing Vanek with Koivu and? Pominville is not a 3rd line guy unless you are thinking Koivu, Vanek, and Pommy with Granlund, Parise, Coyle. I don't think it'd make a lot of sense going with Nino as a 3rd line guy though if you put Haula, Nino, Zucker out there, you'd have crazy potential.

I'm probably the only guy that thinks Brodziak, Cooke, McCormick (Fontaine) could be a solid 4th.