Congratulations Saku Koivu

Last night with 4 seconds left in the Stars-Ducks game, Saku Koivu shoveled the puck up to Andrew Cogliano who put the puck into an empty net. That was Koivu’s 24th point this year, and his 800th career point.

Saku’s career started in 1995 with the Canadiens and got 45 points in his rookie year. His career has been full of injuries, whether it be a knee injury, a dislocated shoulder, an eye injury and of course cancer. Koivu was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma, a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma on September 6, 2001 and missed most of the season. When he made his miraculous comeback on April 9, 2002, the Canadiens 80th game of the season, the ovation he got was a moment I will never forget. Koivu is tied for the longest term of captaincy (10 years) for the Canadiens with legend Jean Beliveau.

Through a period of darkness brought on by a cup drought, Saku Koivu was a shining light for the Canadiens organization and the city of Montreal. Off the ice he is known for his generosity. He donated 3 cancer treatment machines to the Montreal general hospital. He constantly speaks about cancer and how to overcome it. He is a household name to Canadiens fans and Montrealers amongst greats like Jean Beliveau, Maurice Richard, Ken Dryden, and Guy Lafleur even though he has been in the Ducks organization for 4 years. Koivu ranks 10th all time for the Canadiens in points. Koivu is 3rd all-time for points for Finnish players.

At 38 years old, he has shown that he can still produce. In 34 games this this season, he is a +10 and has 8 goals and 16 assists. Saku Koivu will be an UFA at the end of the year. It is my deepest hopes and dreams that the Canadiens bring him back for one final campaign with the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge.

Once again, congratulations.

DB