Finland ice hockey player and Olympic medallist Mikko Koivu is expected to miss out on this year's Winter Games in Sochi.

The Minnesota Wild captain, who was expected to lead Finland at the Olympics, has missed 13 NHL games so far after having ankle surgery in January, as the result of an injury against the Washington Capitals.

Minnesota General Manager Chuck Fletcher told Star-Tribune: "There's a lot of healing and work that needs to be done to get him to that position. If we can get him there, great, but I think people need to understand how hard he's working to get healthy and come back. But it is what it is.

"Your body's only going to heal the way it's going to heal. There's no magic wand here. He's skating on his own, but it's a long way from skating on your own to playing in a high-end international Olympic game."

Koivu won a bronze medal with Finland in the 2010 Games, and a silver medal in 2006.