Another day, and another huge blow for one of the elite hockey nations prior to the Sochi games. In separate announcements today it was learned that star Finnish centres Mikko Koivu and Valterri Filppula will not be available for the team in Sochi.
Koivu was expected to be the team captain, and first line centre. He has been out of action since suffering a broken ankle in a game January 4th against the Washington Capitals. The injury required surgery, and only recently has Koivu been able to resume skating with his Minnesota Wild teammates (though in a non-contact jersey).
Koivu has eight goals and 35 points in 44 games for the Wild this season. At the time of the injury, he was leading the team in points.
“I just don’t feel healthy enough to feel that I can play at the level that I want,” Koivu said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Valtteri Filppula suffered a non-displaced fractured ankle Thursday Night in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is expected to be out of action for at least three weeks according to the team.
The veteran center is second in scoring on the Tampa Bay Lightning this season with 41 points in 56 games including 20 goals.
The two will be replaced by forwards Jarkko Immonen and Sakari Salminen, both currently playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL.
Salminen is the sixth leading scorer in the KHL with 18 goals and 46 points this season. Immonen is a former New York Rangers prospect and 18th in the KHL points race with 36 this year. The two have chemistry and will likely play on a line together for the Finnish team.
Finland’s first game is February 13th against Austria.
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