Former Ducks center Saku Koivu sells Irvine home for $6 million

Saku Koivu, the longtime Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks center who retired in September, has sold his home in Irvine for $6 million.

The Tuscan-style residence, built in 2008, features a fossilized stone and reclaimed brick exterior with antique roof tiles and five salvaged fireplaces imported from France. The nearly 7,400 square feet of living space, with wood beams and limestone flooring, includes a 1,500-bottle wine cellar, a gourmet kitchen, seven bedrooms and six full bathrooms.

Mixing formal living spaces and casual outdoor environments, telescoping walls of glass open the interiors to a central courtyard with a fireplace and a covered loggia of more than 1,000 square feet. An outdoor kitchen and a pool complete the half-acre setting.

Koivu listed the home for sale in July shortly after Ducks general manager Bob Murray announced that the 18-year veteran, along with goalie Jonas Hiller and forward Daniel Winnik, would not be extended contract offers during the offseason. Hiller, now with the Calgary Flames, put his Newport Home on the market last month at $5.25 million.

The Finnish-born player, who will be 40 in November, spent more than a decade with the Canadiens before joining the Ducks in 2009. His younger brother, Mikko Koivu, is a center and captain for the Minnesota Wild.

Koivu and his wife, Hanna, purchased the home in October 2009 for $4.795 million, public records show. They had asked as much as $6.5999 million for the property.

James Jekums of Seven Gables Real Estate was the listing agent. Jacqueline Thompson of Surterre Properties Inc. represented the buyer in the sale, which closed on Monday.

Twitter: @NJLeitereg