The Minnesota Wild are getting ready to return from the NHL’s Olympic break, but there is still some doubt on whether or not Wild captain Mikko Koivu will be able to play when the Wild take on Edmonton on Thursday.
Koivu did practice Monday. Afterwards Wild Coach Mike Yeo indicated that Koivu still has a ways to go.
Yeo: "We want to get (Mikko) in the lineup. If the game was tonight, he wouldn't play. We've made progress but aways to go still." #mnwild
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) February 24, 2014
Yeo said to reporters after practice, there’s no question they want Koivu back in the lineup.
“But when we get him back we want him in the lineup at 100-percent, or at the least very close to that,” Yeo said.
The Star Tribune reports Koivu did participate in game-like situation drills, which could be a good sign for a Thursday night return.
Koivu indicated that progress has been good since returning from the injury. “Each and every day it’s getting stronger and stronger so that’s a good sign.”
He returned to practice last week.
Nino Niederreiter returned to practice for the Wild. Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and Mikael Granlund all had Monday off. According to the Pioneer Press, they are not expected to participate until Wednesday.
