Mikko Koivu Headed to All-Star Game

I am going to go ahead and expand Andrew Brunette's comment in Russo's story... It's about damn time.

In an interesting sixty second of time, NHL.com released a story with the "full rosters" that included no Minnesota Wild players. That information was quickly debunked as both Russo and the Wild tweeted that Koivu was on his way to Ottawa later this month for the corporate showcase of talent. How the corporate site for the league doesn't present all of the information is beyond me, but is less than surprising at this point. I digress.

Shake it off.

Mikko Koivu is headed to his first NHL All-Star game, despite being one of the best two way players in the game for the bulk of his career. He has made the Wild a better team, even in years with little to no hope. He is a machine on the ice, a leader both on and off. To be sure, if he were in a market like New York or Toronto, Koivu would be a mainstay of highlight shows and talk of the best players in the game.

A much deserved honor for a great player and an all around solid human being. Congrats, Mikko.

Also going (according to Russo) is Nick Johnson, or as he is known around here, the Best Waiver Claim Ever. Thank you to the Pittsburgh organization for deciding he was not needed in your franchise any longer. Johnson will be a part of the rookie skills competition. Nice to see a Wild rookie get some love, isn't it?

This part has since been removed form the story. Ah well.

Now the question has to be asked... will you watch the All-Star Game?