Wild assistant general manager Tommy Thompson told Sports Headliners earlier this month that the franchise doesn’t “intend” to lose forward Marian Gaborik who becomes an unrestricted free agent after next season. Expectations are that the Wild will try to sign Gaborik to a long term contract this year.
That will be good news for a franchise that seems stalled out in contract negotiations with another valuable player, soon to be (July 1) unrestricted free agent forward Brian Rolston. If Rolston, 35, who was second on the team in goals (31 versus Gaborik at 42) doesn’t come back, that’s bad news. Losing Gaborik, 26, who is coming off his best season in goals, assists and points, would be double bad news, the kind of headline that leads the local 10 p.m. newscasts.
“Well, we don’t intend to lose him,” Thompson said. “Having said that, any hockey player, you have to be prepared to lose him. Not necessarily through free agency. It’s a dangerous game. Guys can tear up their knee. …Hurt their back and they can’t play any more. So you have to be able to survive the loss of anybody. …We don’t intend to have that happen with him.”
No one has to explain Gaborik’s importance to Thompson. “I think Marian has been a very valuable person to us,” he said. “He’s scored big goals. He’s made big plays. He’s opened up the entire ice which makes it easier for other people to play, and he’s excited the fans. So he’s been a very valuable guy for us.”
Thompson said there’s as much or more parity in the NHL now than ever. That means retaining a rare talent like Gaborik is vital to the Wild’s competitiveness in future seasons.
No team has repeated as Stanley Cup champions since Detroit, 1997 and 1998. “I think it will be difficult to do that,” Thompson said. “It’s just such a grind at 82 (regular) season games. And to be honest…there’s more teams that do a real good job in the coaching, and the managing, and the scouting then there used to be. It’s harder (to repeat). Sure it is.”