I heard on kfan (pa/dubay) that Gaborik is bored with the club and Coach Lemaire. It's known his relationship with the coach isn't the best. Signing him to a long term contract might not be happening. If it can't happen the club may have to trade him so they get something instead of losing him thru free agency. If he is that unhappy with Lemaire I wonder if he has told Risebrough this? Or maybe he's unhappy with both of them. I wonder how much truth there is as to why free agent players don't want to come here because of Lemaire's system. I think there is something to that, but players aren't willing to come out and say it. We lose Gabby and the franchise takes a big step backwards. Risebrough has to consider the coaching angle, but he is so set that the coach isn't the issue. If the club signs Gabby to a ridiculous offer then what impact will that have in the future in trying to sign others? They'll probably ask him to re-work his deal for the betterment of the team.

Gabby is as good as gone. From what I read he is doing nothing in the negotiations he's leaving that up to his agent. I say by trade dead line if he isnt dealt to a team for something we will get nothing for him once the season is over.
Wouldnt break my heart if he wasn't on the team, always injured.

Imagine that, a MN team letting a high quality player go for next to nothing. That hasn't happened before...

I have said for years that the reason we don't get the "big" FA signings here is because of Lemaire and his system. He and Risebrough could leave anytime IMO. His system is 90's and you can see how far it has gotten us and how "successfull" it has been in the post-season. Yeah, I know we won the division blah blah blah but that don't matter if you can't win in April, does it? Having said that, I am not a huge Gabby fan,either. He is not a good leader or team guy IMO and is NOT worth 9-10 million a year-I don't care what anybody says. Trade him EARLY in the season or we wind up getting nothing in return. As dumb as Risebrough is, I don't think he is dumb enough to sign Gabby to a ridiculous extension (Ihope..).

I am not a Gabby fan. Isn't strong on the puck. Shy's away from the play in the corners and in front of the net. Wouldn't bother me if they dealt him.

I think in the JL system you need to have the right players and I'm not sure if Gaborik is one of those players. If he is gone then if will be interesting to see where the find some scoring. I think Biff is right he relys solely on his speed to score.

I'm also questioning if the JL system isn't getting a bit outdated. I would say the two of the top teams in the regular season last year were Montreal and Detroit. Both of these teams put up a lot of offense and controled the puck.

Actually Montreal didn't score much at all compared to the top teams in the league.

I sure hope we sign Gabby you have to have a player like him around regardless if he's not physical enough for some!

I liken the JL system to Bill Musslemen's coaching style you take a bunch of players with minimal Talent and you play a TEAM system obviously tailored toward defense and you make them work their ARSE"S off instead of being spoiled like most athletes have been their entire lives. So what you get is a team that overachieves like both JL and Muss's teams did and have done!

So in my opinion what you get is a better team the drawbacks are some of the players may get disgruntled having to work hard and be accountable in the team first concept. This in turn hurts the players individual stats and future MONIES!

Montreal was second in goals last year for the regular season.

From nhl.com under team goals for:

1. Ottawa 258
2. Montreal 257
3. Detroit 252

I was thinking Toronto my bad!

Trade him now, at least we can get something for him. The wild have $$$ to spend. I just dont think he wants to play here.

I agree to him not wanting to play...aleast with this team. Demitra seemed to be able to push him some or skate with him. But I'm a Bertuzzi fan, so what do I know??

I hope we trade him before the season, to big of a distraction!

Its starting to become a mess!

isnt he already claiming to be "hurt" again?? yah definetly time to get rid of the pansies. . .this is HOCKEY!!

hes a great player but hes such a sally when it comes to going into the corners to get the puck