Marián Gáborík

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Position Right Wing
Shoots Left
Nickname Gabby, Gab, The Slovakian Rocket
Height
Weight
ft 1 in (1.85 m)
183 lb (83 kg)
NHL Team Minnesota Wild
Nationality Flag of Slovakia Slovakia
Born February 14, 1982,
Trenčín, CS
NHL Draft 1st Round, 3rd overall, 2000
Minnesota Wild
Pro Career 1997 – present

Marián Gáborík born February 14, 1982 in Trenčín, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) is a Slovak professional ice hockey player. He plays right wing for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League.

Contents

[edit] Playing career

Gáborík was drafted by the Wild with the third overall pick in the first round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft after Rick DiPietro and Dany Heatley. He showed promise during his rookie season, collecting 18 goals for the expansion Wild. Gáborík took the next step forward in the 2001-2002 season as he notched his first 30 goal season and had a career high 67 points. Marián again would score 30 goals the following year, but more importantly helped lead the Wild to its first ever playoff experience, capping off the season with a trip to the Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately, injuries and contract issues have riddled the last two seasons for Gáborík. In the 03-04 season, Marián Gáborík was limited to only 65 games due to contract disputes. During the 2005-2006 season a groin injury limited him again to only 65 games. However, Gáborík still managed to score 38 goals in 2005-2006 and produced his 8th career hat trick, and has turned the trick against a team from all six divisions. Marián is an immense talent, widely regarded as one of the most explosive and electrifying players in hockey and also exemplified by his selection to the Slovakian Olympic team and his offensive production on a defensive minded team. Yet, he still receives criticism for his inconsistency and inability to remain in the lineup and his commitment to the team is questionable. Gáborík recently signed 3-year 19 million dollar contract extension with the Wild.

Gáborík has never played a full 82-game NHL season as he has suffered recurring groin injuries. On October 20th, 2006, Marian suffered a groin strain against the Anaheim Ducks. Initial reports listed a 10 to 14 day recovery time, which was a significant under estimate. He returned to the lineup January 6th, 2007 against the Colorado Avalanche, two and a half months later missing 34 games.

[edit] Awards

[edit] Records

[edit] Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/- PP SH GW GP G A Pts PIM
2000-01 Minnesota Wild NHL 71 18 18 36 32 -6 6 0 3 -- -- -- -- --
2001-02 Minnesota Wild NHL 78 30 37 67 34 0 10 0 4 -- -- -- -- --
2002-03 Minnesota Wild NHL 81 30 35 65 46 +12 5 1 8 18 9 8 17 6
2003-04 HC Dukla Trenčín SVK 9 10 3 13 10 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2003-04 Minnesota Wild NHL 65 18 22 40 16 +10 3 0 4 -- -- -- -- --
2004-05 HC Dukla Trenčín SVK 29 25 27 52 46 -- -- -- -- 12 8 9 17 26
2004-05 Färjestads BK SEL 12 6 4 10 45 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2005-06 Minnesota Wild NHL 65 38 28 66 64 +6 10 2 7 -- -- -- -- --
NHL totals 360 134 140 274 196 +22 34 3 26 18 8 9 17 6

[edit] International play

[edit] See also

[edit] References