CBJ sign C Mikko Koivu to one-year contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed veteran center Mikko Koivu to a one-year, $1.5 million contract for the 2020-21 National Hockey League season, club General Manager and Alternate Governor Jarmo Kekalainen announced today.
Koivu, 37, has registered 205 goals and 504 assists for 709 points with 592 penalty minutes and a +70 plus/minus rating in 1,028 career games over 15 seasons with the Minnesota Wild. He is the franchise's all-time leader in games played, points and assists and ranks second in goals (Marian Gaborik, 219). The Wild's captain since 2009-10, he has also collected 11-17-28 and 38 PIM in 59 career outings during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He notched 4-17-21, 28 PIM and was +2 in 55 games during the 2019-20 season.
"Mikko Koivu has been a very consistent, productive two-way player in the National Hockey League for many years," said Kekalainen. "He is a great leader, has impeccable character and will be a valuable addition to our young team. We are very excited that he has chosen to continue his career as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets."
Koivu was Minnesota's first pick, sixth overall, at the 2001 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut in 2005-06 and has scored 10 or more goals in 12 times, scored 40 or more points on 11 occasions and hit the 50-point mark seven times during his 15 seasons with the club. He is a three-time 20-goal scorer, including the 2009-10 campaign when he set career highs in goals, assists and points with 22-49-71 and 50 PIM in 80 games. In 2011-12, he tallied 12-32-44 in 55 games and was selected to play in the All-Star Game but missed the event due to injury. In 2016-17, he tallied 18-40-58, 34 PIM, +27 and was a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, which is given to the NHL's best defensive forward.
During his career, Koivu has also tallied 60-191-251 on the power play, added 10 shorthanded goals and 33 game-winners. He has been one of the NHL's top performers in the face-off circle, winning 53.7 percent of draws taken during his career and topping 52 percent 12 of the past 13 seasons. Since 2005, only three players have taken more face-offs than Koivu's 19,290 (Sidney Crosby - 21, 425, Patrice Bergeron - 21,054, Anze Kopitar - 19,778).
A native of Turku, Finland, Koivu has been a standout performer for Finland in international competition. He has represented his homeland at two Olympic Games (2006-silver medal, 2010-bronze medal), two World Cup of Hockey Tournaments (2004-2nd Place, 2016), six IIHF World Championships (2006-bronze medal, 2007-silver medal, 2008-bronze medal, 2011-gold medal, 2012, 2016-silver medal) and a pair of IIHF World Junior Championships (2001-silver medal, 2002-bronze medal). Among Finnish born players in NHL history, Koivu ranks fifth in points and assists and seventh in games played and goals.