Wild brings two back in the fold

Mikko Koivu always had the right to arbitration in his back pocket, but when the Wild contacted his agent in early June to negotiate a long-term contract, the 24-year-old center knew it would never come to that.

"I've got to say, it was kind of easy for us to get this done," an ecstatic Koivu said after signing a four-year, $13 million contract Saturday. "Everything went so fast, and it just brought a feeling that they really cared about me.

"In fact, the way they've handled me from the second I was drafted [in 2001], you just knew how much they cared. And this was the last proof of how deep they care and believe in me. I'm going to work hard, and I hope I can give something back the way they've given to me."

As good a mood as Koivu was in from his Turku, Finland, home Saturday, Doug Risebrough was equally giddy. The Wild general manager believed the Koivu contract was a no-brainer because he's a "sure thing," and Risebrough also was able to keep veteran defenseman Martin Skoula from testing free agency today by signing him to an affordable two-year deal worth $3.6 million.

"I said to [coach Jacques Lemaire] at the draft, 'We need to get together so I can give you an update on everything,'" Risebrough said, laughing. "The only thing he wanted to know? 'What's going on with Skoula?' "

Lemaire also talked last weekend about the importance of Koivu taking his game to the "next level." Playing in all situations last season and on virtually every line, Koivu scored 20 goals and 54 points in only his second NHL season, a 33-point increase over his rookie year for the second-largest increase in the league. He also tied for first in the NHL with eight shootout goals.

Koivu, a restricted free agent, will earn $2.7 million next season, then $3.3 million in 2008-09 and 2009-10 and $3.7 million in 2010-11 for a salary cap hit of $3.25 million. The Wild bought out one year of Koivu's unrestricted free agency.

"Mikko does pretty well everything," Risebrough said. "He can play well defensively, he can play well offensively, he can score goals, he can make plays, he can play aggressive. He's going to be a player other teams look at and say this guy will make an impact on the game.

"Whether it's his character or drive, I don't know. But Mikko always is going to find a way to make his team better. He's got a great care for winning and a great care for his teammates. He's a sure thing because he always finds a way."

As of a week ago, Risebrough didn't consider re-signing Skoula because he thought he'd be too expensive. But late this past week, the Wild received a call from Skoula's agent, Jiri Crha, and the Wild signed Skoula back at a $1.8 million cap hit and $200,000 raise.

"I was encouraged by getting that call because Martin saw the value of coming back here and playing in his role," Risebrough said. "Martin, from about Game 25, was a really solid defenseman for us. He's big on a defense that's not real big, he's mobile, he moves the puck.

"He was a matchup defenseman for us, and ultimately, I think he'll contribute more offensively."

Skoula, who had no goals and 15 assists and was a plus-9 last season, struggled in the season's opening couple of months, making a series of gaffes that cost the Wild goals. However, Lemaire stuck with Skoula and gave him more and more minutes, and his game steadied.

"It would have been hard to replace him," Risebrough said.

Wild centers Wes Walz, Todd White and Wyatt Smith will become unrestricted free agents if unsigned by 11 a.m. today. Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Nick Schultz, Kurtis Foster, Derek Boogaard and Josh Harding will become restricted free agents. Bouchard, Schultz, Foster and Boogaard have the right to file for arbitration if unsigned by Thursday.

Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com