In fifth season, Koivu stands at center stage

Almost two years ago to the day, Mikko Koivu sat down for a visit at this northeast Minneapolis coffee shop.

He was coming off a breakout sophomore season, yet he still was considered an up-and-comer with plenty of untapped potential.

Inside Minnesota, Koivu was overshadowed by Marian Gaborik and Brian Rolston. Outside Minnesota, he couldn't escape the stigma of sharing a surname with a certain Montreal Canadiens captain and Finnish legend.

"It's funny. I was just walking over here and thinking how much has changed since we first had coffee two years ago," said Koivu, now 26. "I've changed a lot -- as a player and a person. It went fast."

Koivu is no longer a secret, and he is definitely no longer known simply as Saku Koivu's kid brother.

In his native Finland, it's Mikko who's now the big deal. He is followed by paparazzi and graces the cover of Finland's version of EA Sports' "NHL 10" video game.

Not only did Koivu lead the Wild in scoring last season, he had more points (67) than any Finnish NHLer.

Koivu is the Wild's No. 1 center. He is the Wild's glue and one of the team's most popular players.

Want proof? Just listen to the reaction when No. 9 is introduced before tonight's home opener against Anaheim.

"It's going to be my fifth one, and I still get nervous about it," Koivu said. "I got goose bumps last year the way the fans greeted me. It's that point when you realize how cool it is to play hockey in this city. It's an amazing feeling."

Why Saku chose Anaheim

To add to Koivu's excitement tonight, he will be facing off against his brother, with whom he had dinner Monday. On July 8, after 13 seasons in Montreal and nine as the Canadiens captain, Saku Koivu signed with the Ducks.

That wasn't the Wild's plan three months ago. The Wild tried to ensure that two Koivus would be introduced one after the other tonight.

In need of a No. 2 center, the Wild offered Saku Koivu a two-year deal for about $8 million and three-year deal for about $9 million. After a long deliberation, Koivu opted for a one-year, $3.25 million deal with Anaheim so he could play alongside close friend Teemu Selanne during the future Hall of Famer's final season.

"I left it totally up to Saku and his family," Mikko said. "Obviously when he asked me about the team, organization and city, I gave my opinion and you know how much I love to be here. And he knows that.

"But he was thinking about me. He wanted for myself just to have my own thing here. He didn't want to come here and make it 'brothers' again, because that's what it's always been in Finland."

As Saku Koivu said, he was trying to be big brother "protecting" little brother.

"If you really think about the possibilities and only the positive side, it would have been a pretty exciting thing," Saku said in July. "But I looked at it in, I guess, a more negative way and I was thinking, 'What if this happens or what if things won't work out?' "

Both would have gotten irritated with Koivu brothers-themed stories on every road trip. And at 34, Saku is 8 1/2 years older than Mikko, so he was nervous what would happen if his game deteriorated over the course of his contract.

Mikko Koivu is a proud hockey player. The edge he plays with on the ice often can be seen off the ice as well, and it's especially transparent when he or his teammates are criticized.

How would Mikko have handled it if Saku was booed by the fans or critiqued by the media? "No way," Mikko said. "It's my brother. You care about the people close to you or you love, so it's a little easier on us not to play on the same team right now. I'd say there were more risks [for] him coming here than [rewards]."

Still, that Mikko even would consider playing alongside his brother shows how much he has grown.

During his rookie year in 2005, Mikko would shoot daggers at any reporter who dared ask about Saku.

"I never wanted to talk about him, and that's the way I wanted to handle it," Mikko said. "I wanted to make my statement that I'm not here to play the way he plays and I'm not here to earn my ice time because I'm his brother. I wanted to prove that I'm me, and I think I have."

Saku said Monday: "I'm very proud of him. It's a great feeling to see him play so well and succeed at the NHL level."

Still as intense as ever

Mikko Koivu, the sixth overall pick in 2001, is healthy and says he's looking to have a big season with the aim of returning the Wild to the postseason. He is a relentless forechecker, and on the backcheck, he often pickpockets unsuspecting opponents.

"I'm not going to change as a player. I always will be a two-way player," Koivu said. "I like that. I have a lot of respect for the players who do that, so I am not going to change that. I feel good when I make good defensive plays and I know my teammates appreciate if you do the dirty job."

Koivu is ecstatic to be playing alongside Martin Havlat, and maybe it could translate to Koivu bettering his output (career-high 20 goals twice).

"In the playoffs, [Havlat has] always been up there making big plays and scoring some big goals. You need those guys," Koivu said. "But the way he takes care of himself, you see he's very professional. And to be honest, that was kind of a surprise for me to see that. I know all good players take care of themselves, but he takes it to another level and is a guy the younger guys can learn from."

One area Koivu strives to improve is his off-ice demeanor. While some players have the ability to quickly forget losses, Koivu wears them on his face.

"I don't want to lose that, but at the same time, sometimes it gets kind of heavy and [weighs on me]," Koivu said. "It's like it's against me, but it's one of my strengths, too. Probably without that, I would not be here, but I'm trying to learn I don't have to be as critical all the time.

"I think I always will worry if things aren't going the right way as a team and individual. But I'm trying to look more at the big picture and try to realize there are 82 games and you can't be your best every single night, even if you want to be."

It's easier said than done. After Saturday's season-opening 2-1 loss at Columbus, a red-faced Koivu stared angrily against the locker-room wall. He made eye contact with a reporter, and he shot a look like, "Don't even think about it."

"I wasn't [annoyed with] the way we played because I think we played a good game, but I just felt we could have had it," Koivu said. "That's what [ticked] me off. It's tough to win in this league, especially on the road, and when you get close like that, and then feel like you had all these chances to score and didn't, that's why I was like, [irate].

"I think it's something we all have to realize that when you're in the moment, we have to find a way to do it and not just be satisfied that we played well, we tried. No. We have to win."

'Love the city, love the fans'

Koivu has two years left on a four-year, $13 million deal, meaning he is potentially two summers from unrestricted free agency.

Under the previous regime, the Wild got itself into trouble by waiting to re-sign players. It would be shocking if General Manager Chuck Fletcher doesn't try to extend Koivu's contract once he is allowed next summer.

"My philosophy is, as soon as I know somebody fits into our future planning, you go after them right away and aggressively," Fletcher said. "The general rule of thumb is the earlier you start the process, usually the better off you are."

Koivu doesn't want to think about it yet.

"The business can screw up your game," Koivu said. "So I just want to enjoy the moment. But I love the city, I love the fans. I feel so comfortable here. I know the trainers and players. I really like the new coach and GM. You can tell they do care a lot about their players. It's just first class here.

"You've got your friends outside of hockey. You've got your coffeehouses. This has become home.

"But I just want to win. ... I feel we have a strong core and now it's just about making it happen. Last year was disappointing. You think, 'What can we do better to do it?' We have 81 to go, and if healthy, and I think we can do it. That's all I'm thinking about right now."