Wild Offers up Gaborik

[Bud McLeaf]

Marian Gaborik's days as a member of the Minnesota Wild could be ending sooner than later.

An unnamed NHL team executive told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune this week that Wild general manager Doug Risebrough has been actively shopping the star forward around the league and offered Gaborik to his team in a trade over the weekend.

According to the paper, the executive said he was not interested.

Gaborik is expected to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The 26-year-old is the team's all-time leading scorer with with 207 goals and 415 points in 487 games and has hit the 30-goal mark five times in seven seasons.

Last season, Gaborik had a franchise-record 42 goals and 83 points. While the Slovakian forward maintains that he wants to stay in Minnesota, he and agent Ron Salcer have reportedly rejected multiple contract extension offers.

Gaborik, who has a history of abdominal and leg injuries, has missed the past two games because of a lower body injury.

The young forward, who makes $7.5 million this season, could be tough to move this early in the campaign considering the cap hit to the league's $56.7 million salary ceiling.

Files from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune were used for this report.

[McLovin]

in b4 Toronto should pick him up

[Sweaty Eddie]

seconded

Hes UFA after this year, so wherever he goes, hes going to hit pay dirt.

[Vizzon]

Toronto should be all over this. Fi I was Cliff flecher id be wheelin n dealin doin whatever I can. The leafs need some scoring badly

[Bud McLeaf]

Mabee they'll take Boyd Devereaux and Jamal Mayers for him!

[Nick Kypreos]

Wheelin n dealin should be in Flechers best interest.
BTW:

[McLovin]

LOL. In after Toronto should pick him up, now!

[Sweaty Eddie]

hai guyz watz goin on in dis thrad??

[Nick Kypreos]

mmmhhhhmmmmm..... I can see this topic is still going places.

[McLovin]

You know...WE COULD have a chance at picking him up at the end of the year. We have the cap space but its also up to him where he wants to play because hell have a chance to pick and choose. Its up to him whether he wants to play in a huge hockey market on a rebuilding team or play on a contender.
Though Rick Nash will be available too and I'd much rather have the Leafs spend the money on him.

[Bud McLeaf]

Id imagine that Columbus will do all they can to keep Rick Nash.
That being said, Nash would be an awesome fit in Toronto.
Id be all for a Nash / Tavares / Antropov first line.
Pretty sure thats a long shot though.

[Sweaty Eddie]

As Minnesota Wild GM Doug Risebrough continues to weigh the market for star sniper Marian Gaborik, the Los Angeles Kings are hoping to gain the inside track.

The Wild and Kings have been discussing a deal for the 26-year-old, sources told TFP.

Risebrough is believed to be asking for one of Dustin Brown or Alexander Frolov as part of a package in exchange for Gaborik. While the Kings prefer to keep Brown, they are supposedly willing to let Frolov go.

However, before any trade is consummated, the Kings, along with any other club closing in on a deal for Gaborik, want to first speak with agent Ron Salcer about signing a new long-term contract extension.

It's uncertain, at this point, if the Wild would be willing to grant another club that right.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers are all believed to be interested in Gaborik.

The Montreal Canadiens were originally thought to be involved in trade talks for Gaborik, but Habs GM Bob Gainey told the media this week that "we haven't been involved in anything with Marian Gaborik."

Last week, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported Risebrough offered Gaborik in a trade to an unidentified club, but the deal was rejected.

[Bud McLeaf]

I dont understand how the Leafs have their name in the hat for Gaborik. What could they possibly offer for him?

Id also love to know who the "unidentified team" is and what the offer was.
I could see Minnesota moving Gaborik to LA but I doubt that theyll get the contract extention, which would nullify the deal.
I dont think hed be interested in staying with the Kings, I think hes more or a big market player which might look good for Montreal, who dont really need him right now, the Rangers, but no cap space, or mabee even Vancouver.

[matty b]

Wow. Gaborik on the Canucks would solidify their offense, and with Luongo in net, they could make a serious run at the cup!

[Nick Kypreos]

How much room does Vancouver have. Obviously enough if they offered Sundin 2 years x 20million.
If Mats says no to that, Gaborik could be a real possibility. and as long as he stays healthy they could be the team to beat.
Getting by Detroit would be a pretty tough task tho.

[Bud McLeaf]

On second thought, forgot about the captain. Sundin will wind up going to Vancouver, I can feel it. How can anyone turn down 20 mill? So no Gaborik for them.

[matty b]

What is Minnesota after in return for Gaborik? They're like 7-0-1. I don't think they really need to move anyone right now.

[McLovin]

The only thing they did in the off season was loose Rolston so theyd might want to replace him???
Or defense, you can always use defense.