Marian Gaborik

Lore & Background

Gáborík played with Dukla Trenčín's junior team and scored 59 points over 36 games in 1997–98. He appeared in one Slovak Extraliga game that season, scoring a goal in his professional debut. The following season he joined Dukla Trenčín full-time and registered 20 points over 33 games as a rookie. He improved to 46 points in 50 games the following season in his draft year.

Gáborík was the first-ever draft pick for the expansion Minnesota Wild, drafted third overall in 2000. He scored the team's first ever regular season goal in his rookie season, collecting 18 goals and 36 points. In 2001–02 he notched his first 30-goal season and 67 points. He recorded his first career NHL hat-trick on 13 November 2001.

In 2002–03 he was named to his first NHL All-Star Game and won the fastest skater competition. He helped lead the Wild to their first Stanley Cup playoffs appearance and had 17 points in 18 games as part of a run to the Western Conference Finals. Contractual issues kept him from starting the 2003–04 season; he eventually agreed to a three-year, $10 million contract on 31 October 2003. Limited to 65 games that season, he recorded 18 goals and 40 points.

During the 2004–05 lockout he returned to Dukla Trenčín and also played for Färjestad BK. In 2005–06 he had 38 goals and 66 points in 65 games. In 2006–07 he missed 34 games due to a groin injury but still managed a second consecutive 30-goal season. On 20 December 2007 he recorded a six-point game against the New York Rangers with five goals and an assist, becoming the first player in Wild history to score five goals in a game.

He was chosen to his second NHL All-Star Game and recorded personal bests of 42 goals, 41 assists and 83 points. He finished his career year as team captain for the Wild in March 2008. In 2008–09 he was sidelined early with a lower-body injury before undergoing hip surgery in January 2009. He returned on 21 March 2009 and finished the season with 23 points in 17 games.

He left the Wild after eight seasons as its last original player and as the club's all-time leader in goals, assists and points, all of which have since been surpassed by Mikko Koivu. Gáborík signed as an unrestricted free agent with the New York Rangers on 1 July 2009 to a reported $37.5 million contract over five years.

Did You Know?

• He is the Wild's all-time leading goal scorer with 219 goals.
• He won the fastest skater competition at the 2003 NHL All-Star Game with a time of 13.713 seconds.
• He was named MVP of the 2012 NHL All-Star Game.