Brunette, Koivu need time for knees to heal

Andrew Brunette and Mikko Koivu revealed the seriousness of their knee injuries as the Wild packed up for the offseason Monday.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: April 13, 2009 - 10:50 PM

Andrew Brunette and Mikko Koivu revealed the seriousness of their knee injuries as the Wild packed up for the offseason Monday.

Brunette, 35, will undergo reconstructive surgery on his right knee Thursday after completely tearing his anterior cruciate ligament Jan. 17. Koivu, 26, has been playing on a second-degree sprain to his left knee since March 22.

"You can't have surgery with this. It's just time and treatments," Koivu said.

Brunette is expected to be sidelined four to six months, but says, "I'm aiming to be back and ready to go in training camp."

Brunette, the Wild's second-leading scorer with 50 points, said he's not worried the surgery will affect his play next season. "I can't skate anyways. Maybe I'll play in running shoes," he quipped.

Brunette and Koivu, the Wild's leading scorer with 67 points, said the season was highly unsatisfying.

"I'm sick to my stomach. We got what we deserved," Brunette said. "I hope we realize next year how hard it is to get in [the playoffs] and how every game, every point means something."

Added Koivu: "The crowd the last home game [an 8-4 victory over Nashville on Friday], the way they were into it and then you realize you're not giving them the playoffs, it [stinks]. That's what you play for."

Koivu was asked if he expects his 34-year-old brother and captain of the Montreal Candiens, Saku, to sign with the Wild this offseason.

"I don't want to talk about that yet," Koivu said. "It's a situation where he'll have to make the call. It's about him and his family, first of all. They've been there 13 or 14 years, so obviously, it'll be a tough call for him to do it. But we'll see."

Young players struggled

As GM Doug Risebrough was giving his state-of-the-team address, he was critical of the year Brent Burns and Pierre-Marc Bouchard had. Both were sitting in the second row.

"Sometimes you have to slip back to move ahead," Risebrough said. "When I think about that, I think of Butch and I think of Burnsie. These are both guys that have big hearts that want to be a big part of the Minnesota Wild. Yes, they didn't have as good of years, and maybe slipping back to go ahead is a positive."

Asked if that was tough to hear, Burns said: "It's common sense. Last year I had a great year, a good world championship. This year, I moved back and forth between forward and D, then had the injury stuff. I don't think it's a myth to call last year better than this year."

Burns said his concussion symptoms have not improved: "It's still rough."

Bouchard said he's feeling a little better from his concussion, while Nick Schultz said he has a concussion. "I'm still having trouble with lights, but I have five months to get better," Schultz said.

Fritsche rips Tootoo

Dan Fritsche, wearing an immobilizer, is still in pain from a broken collarbone suffered Friday when he got hit by Nashville's Jordin Tootoo.

"I don't think he would have hit me if my head wasn't down," Fritsche said. "That's who he is. ... You have to know who you're playing against."

It will take six to eight weeks for Fritsche to heal.

Etc.

• Marian Gaborik will go to Vail, Colo., today or Wednesday to be examined by his hip surgeon, Dr. Marc Philippon. Gaborik said he hasn't decided whether he'll represent Slovakia in the upcoming world championships. Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom and winger Antti Miettinen will play for Finland, Marek Zidlicky for the Czech Republic and Josh Harding for Canada. Equipment manager Tony DaCosta will also work Canada's bench.