Marian Gaborik

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gáborík spent eight seasons with the Wild from 2000 to 2009, becoming the team's all-time leading goal scorer, before signing with the New York Rangers in 2009. He also played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, and Ottawa Senators until retiring in 2018. He won the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2014, defeating his former team, the Rangers. Internationally, he was a two-time Olympian with Slovakia and won a bronze medal at the 1999 World Junior Championships.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Gáborík's time in Minnesota was defined by both explosive scoring and persistent injury battles. After holding out during contract negotiations in 2003 due to disputes over his entry-level deal, he signed a three-year, $10 million contract on October 31, 2003. His resilience shone through the 2004–05 lockout when he dominated with Dukla Trenčín and Färjestad BK. Upon returning to the NHL in 2005–06, despite a groin injury limiting him to 65 games, he recorded 38 goals. The following season saw another groin injury on October 20, 2006, against the Anaheim Ducks, keeping him out until January 6, 2007. Even missing 34 games, he managed a second consecutive 30-goal season. Entering the final year of his contract in 2008–09, he turned down a ten-year, $80 million offer from the Wild before undergoing hip surgery in January 2009, returning to play just 17 games that season.

Reader's Guide

Gáborík played with Dukla Trenčín's junior team and appeared in one Slovak Extraliga game in 1997–98, scoring a goal in his professional debut. He joined Dukla Trenčín full-time in 1998–99 and registered 20 points over 33 games as a rookie, then improved to 46 points in 50 games in his draft year. With the Wild, he scored the team's first regular season goal in his rookie season, notched his first 30-goal season in 2001–02, and helped lead the Wild to their first Stanley Cup playoffs appearance in 2002–03, reaching the Western Conference Finals. He recorded a six-point game (five goals, one assist) against the New York Rangers on 20 December 2007, and finished his Wild tenure as the club's all-time leader in goals, assists, and points. After signing with the Rangers in 2009, he matched his career high with 42 goals in his first season and was named MVP of the 2012 NHL All-Star Game.

Did You Know?

• Gáborík was the first player in Wild history to score five goals in a game, doing so on 20 December 2007 against the New York Rangers.
• He won the fastest skater competition at the 2003 NHL All-Star Game, lapping the rink in 13.713 seconds.
• Gáborík scored a triple-overtime game winner against the Washington Capitals in game 3 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals.