Mikko Koivu enjoyed a career year offensively for the Minnesota Wild in 2009-10. (Andy King/Associated Press)

Minnesota Wild team captain Mikko Koivu, scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent next summer, has signed a seven-year contract extension.

Koivu's existing contract has him set to make $3.25 million US for the coming season, but he'll get a big raise after that.

Koivu's annual base salary will be $5.4 million with bonuses of $1.89 million paid every other year and a double instalment to raise the figure to $9.18 million in the final season.

"It was easy and kind of very fast, and I think that's the way we both wanted," Koivu said.

The Finn was named team captain last October and proceeded to set career highs with 22 goals, 49 assists and 71 points.

Minnesota selected Koivu sixth overall in the 2001 draft. He has compiled 79 goals and 176 assists for 255 points in 362 games, with 256 penalty minutes.

"It's a milestone day in the history of the Minnesota Wild when you have your franchise player commit to you, really, for the next eight seasons," general manager Chuck Fletcher said on the team's website.

"He's our best hockey player. He's our captain. And he's still just 27 with his best hockey years ahead of him."

Koivu won silver in 2006 and bronze in Vancouver in February as part of Finland's Olympic hockey teams.

The centre is the younger brother of Saku Koivu, the longtime Montreal Canadien and current Anaheim forward.

The contract runs through the 2017-18 season.

With files from The Associated Press