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It took eight hours after the beginning of the Free Agency period for Glen Sather and newly acquired star Marian Gaborik to come to agreement on a contract. Gaborik may have won the battle over Sather, inking a contract for 5 years at $7.5 million per year, but this time, Sather has taken a gamble on real talent. Original reports were that the deal was 5 years at $5.7 per, but then it was corrected by TSN’s Darren Dreger, and he announced that the deal consisted of $7.5 million per. Fans were are little upset with the big contract going to an injury prone forward, but I think it is now realized that this was a needed acquisition, as Gaborik is a proven legitimate goal scorer in this league, he now just has to prove that he can play a full season without injuries.
Marian Gaborik, 27, was drafted third overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. In his rookie year, young Marian played 71 games with the Wild, and posted 18 goals and 18 assists for a total of 36 points. In the following season, Gaborik had a much better season, as he scored 30 goals, almost double of first season total, and 37 assists, which adds up to 67 points. In 2002-03, Gaborik performed around the same as his second season, going 30-35-65, in 81 games played.
After the 2002-03 season, injuries became a major factor in Gabby's career, as the skilled forward played only 272 games in his next five seasons in the NHL. That is an average of 54 games per season, not good. Now although he played so few games, he was still able to put up numbers when he was in. His ability to score really showed in the 2007-08 season, when Marian scored 42 goals and 41 assists for 83 points in 77 games played. Because of this, Gaborik was sent to the All-Star game for the second time in his career. Now Marian's worst season would probably be his most recent, 2008-09, and not because of low numbers. It is mainly because he played only 17 games due to hip surgery. When Gaborik was in the line-up for the Wild, he was effective, scoring 13 goals in those 17 games.
Marian Gaborik, 27, was drafted third overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. In his rookie year, young Marian played 71 games with the Wild, and posted 18 goals and 18 assists for a total of 36 points. In the following season, Gaborik had a much better season, as he scored 30 goals, almost double of first season total, and 37 assists, which adds up to 67 points. In 2002-03, Gaborik performed around the same as his second season, going 30-35-65, in 81 games played.
After the 2002-03 season, injuries became a major factor in Gabby's career, as the skilled forward played only 272 games in his next five seasons in the NHL. That is an average of 54 games per season, not good. Now although he played so few games, he was still able to put up numbers when he was in. His ability to score really showed in the 2007-08 season, when Marian scored 42 goals and 41 assists for 83 points in 77 games played. Because of this, Gaborik was sent to the All-Star game for the second time in his career. Now Marian's worst season would probably be his most recent, 2008-09, and not because of low numbers. It is mainly because he played only 17 games due to hip surgery. When Gaborik was in the line-up for the Wild, he was effective, scoring 13 goals in those 17 games.
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Gaborik is the first "star" that the Rangers have acquired (that does not wear goalie pads) since Jaromir Jagr. Gabs basically took last season off to re-hab from his surgeries and injuries, and then returned at the end of the season to prove that he still was able to net goals being that it was a contract year for him, and that is exactly what he did, registering 13 goals in 17 games played, as mentioned above.
When referring to Gaborik, most fans use the phrase "if healthy", well, he now has been going through intense training, and doctors have labeled Marian as the healthiest he has ever been since playing. I believe in this statement, and if it is true, and Gaborik does not have any disruptions from injuries, you can fully expect anywhere from 35 to 5o goals from the gifted winger. The Rangers lacked the big scorer last season, but that role is now in the hands of Marian Gaborik. Whether he will live up to the challenge I can not predict, but if he is healthy, there is no doubt in my mind that he will net at least thirty goals.
The question now is who will center Gaborik? Well, whoever ends up playing with Gaborik, their stats will automatically inflate five to ten percent, he is that good. So it really comes down to who plays better with Marian in camp, pre-season, and early on in the season. But whoever that center may be, you will see an increase in their stats when comparing them to last season.
With that said, Gaborik was a spectacular acquisition, and if he is healthy, he will be well worth his $7.5 million contract. There is really no negative to this signing, besides the fact that Gaborik has had an injury-prone past, but as I said earlier, his injuries are now a thing of the past.
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
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