Koivu practices with team, nears return

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: January 4, 2008 - 9:36 PM

NASHVILLE - Mikko Koivu's face turned red and his smile stretched ear-to-ear Friday when his Wild teammates cheered as he plopped down on his hands and knees to captain the team's stretch session at center ice.

For Koivu, the hour-long practice was his first with teammates since breaking his leg Nov. 16.

"Almost seven weeks. It was a special feeling," said Koivu, who has missed 21 games. "It kind of gets you to respect again being healthy and appreciate skating with the guys and get that feeling again.

"Just a great feeling today to actually play with the puck and shoot at the goalie. It's a lot different than skating by yourself. You miss the guys, especially when they're on the road. You find that out when you're by yourself at the rink day after day."

Besides the clear extra strut in his teammates' step with the return of the popular center, Koivu looked remarkably good.

"For the first practice, he wasn't that bad," coach Jacques Lemaire said. "But it's only a practice. There's no battles, there's no stopping on the boards. It's a start. It shows that he's getting closer."

The Wild isn't targeting a return date yet, but Thursday in Detroit seems a possibility. That would give Koivu four full practices and three morning skates.

One teammate who's made clear he can't wait for Koivu's return is winger Pavol Demitra, who hates playing center in Lemaire's system.

Etc.

• If the Wild beats Nashville tonight and San Jose loses in regulation at home against Columbus (the Sharks are the NHL's worst home team), the Wild would have the second-best winning percentage in the West and Lemaire would assist Red Wings coach Mike Babcock at the All-Star Game in Atlanta on Jan. 27.

Told by reporters Friday, Lemaire's smile disappeared.

"Are you kidding?" asked Lemaire, who has planned a trip to Florida. "You've got anything else more joyful to talk about?"

• Colton Gillies, the Wild's 2007 first-round pick, scored in Canada's 4-1 semifinals victory Friday over the U.S. at the World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic.

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