Un-signed Gaborik ready to leave NHL for Slovakia

[ED]

www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=52521

Unsigned Gaborik set to play in Slovakia

TSN.ca Staff
9/1/2003

With Minnesota Wild training camp set to get underway next week, restricted free agent Marian Gaborik remains unsigned and ready to play in the Slovakian Elite League.

Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, players can suit up for their former team for up to nine games before the NHL season begins. Gaborik is in Slovakia and is ready to take to the ice with his former club, Dukla Trencin on Thursday.

"Marian has not been invited to camp," Gaborik's agent, Allan Walsh told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "He does not expect to be in training camp unless a contract is done."

Gaborik's entry-level contract expired after last season, an incentive-laden deal that netted the star forward close to $10 million over three years.

"In Marian's case there's no doubt he has shown us the potential to be a good player," Wild general manager Doug Risebrough said. "But I've said all along, I want a good team, not a good player."

Another team could sign Gaborik to an offer sheet, at which point the Wild would have five days to match or receive five first-round draft picks in compensation.

[MPLABBE]

No doubt about it in my mind..bargaining ploy.

[ED]

I really like Gaborik but i'd never give up 5 1st rounders for him.

[PTH]

ED said:

I really like Gaborik but i'd never give up 5 1st rounders for him.

Well, I'd need to think about it a bit more.

If I thought Minnesota might let him go for a reasonable contract...

[Deleted]

He's not worth $10 million. No young player is; I don't care if your name is Mario Lemieux or Wayne Gretzky.

[PTH]

MattDHF said:

He's not worth $10 million. No young player is; I don't care if your name is Mario Lemieux or Wayne Gretzky.

It was 10 million total over the 3 years, on a rookie contract...

As far as I can tell the article says nothing of what he wants.

[Deleted]

PTH said:

It was 10 million total over the 3 years, on a rookie contract...

As far as I can tell the article says nothing of what he wants.

Which is just as well. We've seen this same blasted situation with Ruutu, and Gaborik is probably thinking he's worth more than that.

[MPLABBE]

MattDHF said:

and Gaborik is probably thinking he's worth more than that.

He is.

[Montrealer]

PTH said:

Well, I'd need to think about it a bit more.

If I thought Minnesota might let him go for a reasonable contract...

This is one of those ultra-rare times that it might make excellent sense to give up 5 first-rounders. He is a unique talent in this league, and his age...

[Deleted]

Marc said:

He is.

Maybe so, but no kid is worth that kind of asking price. If Gaborik is rewarded his ten million (yes, I know, over three years), then we need to force a salary cap. Because all of these players who are a little bit older will then start thinking they're worth more than that, blah blah blah.

But then again, Minnesota should be able to afford it. Last year, they had a $20 million payroll or so, and they need to keep their franchise players.

Regardless, the asking price of these young players is getting ridiculous. Almost makes Wayne Gretzky look affordable to small market teams by today's terms.

[seventeen]

The Wild would match. No question about it and then it opens the proverbial Pandora's box. There seems to be a real reluctance on the part of NHL teams to go after restricted FA's, understandably. No one's lost one and all it did was drive up salaries.