5: "How Mikko Koivu Ended Up With #9"

·29 min·2 clips

Some fans argue Mikko Koivu's number shouldn't be retired because he played seven games for Columbus.

The episode begins with hosts Paul Fletcher and Mark Parrish introducing the main topic: how Mikko Koivu ended up with number nine and whether it should be retired. They briefly discuss their social distancing experiences and promote sponsor merchandise. The conversation shifts to NHL news, starting with Jim Rutherford's retirement as Penguins GM and the hiring of Ron Hextall and Brian Burke to replace him. They analyze Hextall's success in Philadelphia and Burke's role as an overseer. Next, they touch on the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade and his benching by coach John Tortorella, discussing player-coach dynamics. The focus returns to the Minnesota Wild, where Koivu's retirement after seven games with Columbus is examined. Parrish speculates that Koivu might have realized his heart wasn't in it after leaving Minnesota. Fletcher expresses a wish that Koivu had retired as a Wild player for symbolic reasons. A listener question sparks debate about retiring Koivu's number nine, with both hosts dismissing fan objections due to his brief stint in Columbus. Parrish shares personal anecdotes, including how he traded for jersey number 21 from Koivu, who didn't even want it. They recall Koivu's grumpy morning persona and his competitiveness, illustrated by a story of Fletcher beating him at a game. The episode wraps with plans to potentially interview Koivu in the future and acknowledgments to sponsors.

As heard by us

A jersey-number story turns into a lively hockey conversation about competitiveness, team building, and front-office machinery.

Mark Parrish's story of how Miko Koivu got number nine gives this hockey conversation its cleanest entry point, with the case for retiring the number sitting just behind it.

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Why you'd press play

Miko Koivu's No. 9 gets the spotlight, with the retirement question riding shotgun.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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