• Rated 4th among European prospects on Central Scouting's final ranking, was rated 4th at mid-season ... captured a Silver Medal with Finland in the 2001 World Junior Championship in Moscow, finishing sixth in team scoring (0-3-3 in 7GP) ... captained the Finnish under-18 team at the 2001 Under-18 World Championship, leading his team in scoring (2-3-5 in 6GP) ... split the season between TPS Turku's junior and senior teams ... helped the Finnish under-18 team to a Gold Medal at the 2000 Under-18 World Championship (0-4-4 in 7GP) ... played for Finland's under-18 team at the 2000 Viking Cup (1-1-2 in 4GP) ... is the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu.
• Preseason projected role: Koivu will spend one more season in Finland, before embarking on a pro career.
• Assets: Has great size for the center position and a sound two-way game. Also displays leadership qualities at a young age.
• Flaws: Isn't a natural goal-scorer by any stretch of the imagination. Doesn't own his older brother's hands or hockey sense.
• Career potential: Koivu will be brought along slowly by Wild management but should eventually take over as the team's No. 2 or 3 center. For now, he needs to continue to develop his game, specifically on offense.
• Central Scouting Report
  A big player with excellent puckhandling ability ... a finesse player who maneuvers well through heavy traffic ... he is a creative playmaker with a good understanding of the game ... an excellent passer with very good hockey sense ... has a very high overall skill level ... a team player who will sacrifice himself to make the play ... not an overly physical player, but will not shy away from a physical game ... an effective two-way player with an excellent attitude and solid work ethic.
• "Mikko is a little skinny right now, but he's a lot bigger than I am. He should have a good future in this game." - Saku Koivu, Globe and Mail, Dec. 28, 2000
• "Mikko's style of play is very much the same as his brother's. He is an excellent playmaker and likes to hold on to the puck; his overall skill level is extremely high. A bonus is that he's much bigger than his brother." - Goran Stubb, European Scouting Service
• "Mikko plays for the same TPS Turku team that I did. Half the time he plays with the junior club and half the time with the Division I team. He's getting a lot of games and much needed experience." - Saku Koivu, Globe and Mail, Dec. 28, 2000

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