AP News
(2009-07-09 04:13:48)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Veteran center Saku Koivu joined the Anaheim Ducks on a one-year contract Wednesday after playing 13 seasons in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens.
The 34-year-old Finn, a twice All-Star and double Olympian, had been Montreal's captain for almost a decade.
"Saku Koivu's character and leadership qualities are unquestioned," Ducks executive vice president and general manager Bob Murray said in a statement. "He is a skilled playmaker and we are thrilled to add him to our team."
Koivu, who registered 191 goals and 450 assists in 792 games for the Canadiens, was delighted at the prospect of joining compatriot Teemu Selanne in Anaheim.
"I'm very excited about it," Koivu said in a teleconference call. "I played with Teemu at the Olympics and world championships and we really enjoyed it and had some success.
"Teemu was a factor in my decision to come to Anaheim. Having the chance to play with Teemu was something I wanted. It made my decision fairly easy in the end."
An All-Star in 1998 and 2003, Koivu represented his country at the Winter Olympics in 1998 and also in 2006, when he and Selanne helped Finland clinch the silver medal.
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Justin Palmer)
