PHILADELPHIA – If anybody was to pass Nick Schultz as the Wild's all-time leader in games played, the Philadelphia Flyers defenseman is glad it's good friend and former road roommate Mikko Koivu.
"I didn't think my record was going to stand forever," Schultz said, laughing. "It's neat that it's Mikko. Very well-deserving. I'm glad it's him jumping in front of me. It should be."
Friday night in Washington, Koivu is expected to play his 743rd game for the Wild, tying Schultz's team record. Sunday at home against Florida, Koivu should pass his longtime teammate.
"When I first came into the league, Nick was there for a lot of years," Koivu said. "He was one of the veterans and guys I always look up to the way he prepared himself, so it means a lot."
Of course, Schultz and Koivu love to rib each other. Schultz first joked he planned to take Koivu out Thursday night so he could never break the record. Then he said he hoped GM Chuck Fletcher traded Koivu before Sunday's game.
"He mentioned that to me [Wednesday] night when I was paying for his dinner … again," Koivu said.
In all seriousness, Schultz said: "I think he's the face of the franchise. I know with Zach [Parise] and [Ryan] Suter there now, they're more local guys, but you take a step back, Mikko was drafted [15 years ago] and his longevity with the team and him being the first [full-time] captain of the team, he's the face.
"He's a great leader. A lot of the Finnish guys have that quality. He's just a solid guy, a captain you want to play for. I think he still drives that team."