The Wild’s Gaborik is a skating and scoring delight. Whether he’s here short term, or long, enjoy him now. At 26, it seems like only injuries can stop his progress toward being remembered as one of the NHL’s greatest players in this era. Last year he had career highs in games, goals, assists and points as the team’s star forward.
Mikko Koivuu, 25, is going to be here for awhile. He accounted for five points on one goal and four assists in a game last week, a microcosm of his playmaking ability. The Wild forward was given a leadership opportunity, too, when he was named team captain for October.
Basketball purists are already raving about the low post scoring of Timberwolves center Al Jefferson. Although he’s only 23, few NBA players have had Jefferson’s assortment of moves and effectiveness near the basket. He scored 21 points per game last season and averaged 11.1 rebounds, one of only four players in the league to average 20-10 or more.
Past failures have made the public skeptical about Gopher football but the facts are black and white regarding wide receiver Eric Decker. He is tied for fourth in the country among Division I receivers in receptions with 59, and his 111.71 yards per game ranks fifth. The Cold Spring, Minnesota junior is a cinch to be all-Big Ten, maybe all-American and remembered as one of the Gophers’ greatest receivers ever.
Adam Weber, a sophomore, has improved from last season in not only his understanding of the Gophers’ offense, but also as a passer and leader. He’s thrown nine touchdown passes and only two interceptions in seven games (19 in 12 games last season). Along with Decker, he’s a Gopher Mr. Indispensable and a star in the making.
The last fella to make our star power list is Blake Hoffarber. Although he was a substitute last season as a Gopher basketball freshman, Hoffarber makes the list because of YouTube high school and Big Ten tournament game highlights when his miraculous shots made national news. He’s only 20 but you have to call him Mr. Clutch and also admire his three point field goal percentage last season of .427, among the best in the Big Ten.
So there’s the list. Stop worrying, dump the pity party, and enjoy.