• Blog Post by: Michael Russo
• March 7, 2011 - 11:47 AM

With the Wild sitting in 9th place -- one point behind the Los Angeles Kings, the Wild welcomed back captain Mikko Koivu to practice this morning at Xcel Energy Center.

Koivu was scheduled to see a hand specialist early this morning, so clearly that appointment went well.

The Wild is 3-3-2 without Koivu in the lineup since he broke his finger. Hopefully we learn a further timetable regarding his return after practice, but the Wild hosts Colorado tomorrow before embarking on a huge four-game road trip to Nashville, Dallas, Vancouver and San Jose.

Koivu definitely doesn't look comfortable gripping his stick in practice, but clearly he's close to giving this a try.

Cal Clutterbuck (upper body), Clayton Stoner and Andrew Brunette are not practicing today.

More later.