In many ways, Mikko Koivu is the Minnesota Wild. He’s the franchise’s all-time leader in games played and points. Koivu is the first and only player in Wild history to sport the Captain’s “C” full-time. For 14 seasons, Koivu has left it all on the ice, working hard and giving his team superb two-way play at center.



Despite all this, Koivu is somehow a lightning rod for criticism.



Certain segments of the fanbase and local media have often put Minnesota’s shortcomings at the foot of their longtime captain. The Wild can’t win because he’s too slow. He’s too old. His salary has been an albatross for the salary cap. He doesn’t score enough. He’s actually a third-line center. His lack of playoff success reflects on his abilities as a leader.



Those people are about to get a reality check.



Thanks to a lower-body injury, Minnesota is going to be without their captain for the next little bit.