Koivu Brothers in arms? Maybe

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: October 30, 2008 - 9:54 PM

Almost immediately after the Florida Panthers traded for Pavel Bure in 1999, there was a subculture of loud Panthers fans who longed for the day that the Panthers would acquire the Russian Rocket's kid brother, Valeri Bure.

The Panthers did just that in 2001, sending Rob Niedermayer to Calgary, and thus uniting the Bure Bros.

If you scan the Wild message boards and blogs these days, you'd find a similar outcry in some cases and at least curiosity in others about the potential of bringing together the Koivu Bros. -- Montreal's Saku and the Wild's Mikko -- in Minnesota.

Saku Koivu, the Canadiens' captain since 1999, is a potential unrestricted free agent next summer, and General Manager Bob Gainey has said he won't talk to Koivu about a new contract until after the season.

Well, Wednesday morning, Saku Koivu opened that reunion door ever so slightly.

Asked if he dreams of being teammates with Mikko, Saku, 8 1/2 years older at age 33, said, "Well, I played with him in the Olympics, so we've got that experience. But it would be fun in a way, but at the same time he went through a lot earlier in his life following my steps and everybody thinking that he's going to be the same player, so in a way I think it's better for him to have his career somewhere else and not being on the same team.

"But at the same time, that would be a great experience at the end of my career. We'll see what happens."

Asked if he'd be interested in Saku joining the Wild, Mikko said, "Of course. Whenever it's your best friend, or brother ... it would be a big thing for the family obviously. But I think it's better to just live in the moment and [we're] just going to see what's going to happen in the future."

Saku Koivu said there have been no contract talks with Montreal.

"But right now the focus is on the season," he said. "We know the circumstances. We know we have ... a few players on our team that's going to be free at the end of the season. You know, what happens, we'll see. That's the last thing in my mind right now.

"We want to have a great year in Montreal. ... We'll see with the management what the plan is for them in the future and we'll see what happens."

Mikko has admitted that he initially was uncomfortable talking about Saku, an elite playmaker and competitor. But Mikko is a much more confident player today and has leaped from his brother's shadows.

"I think it was a good thing that I got to come here and kind of find the way myself to the league and get the name for myself," Mikko said. "We played on the national team, and it's always been fun, so who knows in the future, but right now I think we're both satisfied where we are."

There were a few funny moments Wednesday.

As Mikko did his media scrum, Saku sneaked up, watched with a big smile and finally yelled, "OK, that's enough."

Etc.

• Veteran Owen Nolan missed Wednesday's game because of a "lower body" injury. Tomas Mojzis played for Nolan. Derek Boogaard was a healthy scratch as rookie Colton Gillies returned to the lineup.

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