Wild announce they will not re-sign captain Mikko Koivu

Mikko Koivu has spent his entire 15-year NHL career with the Minnesota Wild, but that's all about to change as the 37-year-old enters free agency. 

The Wild announced Friday that the club will not be re-signing the captain in a rather unprecedented move. General manager Bill Guerin released a statement thanking Koivu for his time in Minnesota. 

"Mikko Koivu was a true leader both on and off the ice during his 15-year career with the Wild. From being drafted sixth overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, making his NHL debut on Nov. 11, 2005, being named the team's first full-time captain on Oct. 20, 2009 and wearing the 'C' for the last 11 seasons to becoming the first player to play all 1,000 NHL games with Minnesota on Dec. 1, 2019, Mikko's legacy will live on forever in our organization."

The native of Finland was drafted sixth overall by Minnesota in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Koivu debuted with the Wild in 2005 and has served as the team's captain for the last 11 seasons.

In 1,028 regular-season games, Koivu tallied 205 goals and 504 assists. He placed third in Selke voting for the 2016-17 campaign. 

With Koivu now officially a free agent, the Wild will boast a lineup down the middle that includes Nick Bjugstad, Ryan Donato, Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson. The Wild recently traded Eric Staal to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Johansson. 

Koivu's days in the NHL are winding down, and in August rumors circulated that he'll either sign a one-year deal with a Stanley Cup contender or return home and complete playing with a Finnish club.