Furthermore, the 2009 season took place after players like Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka and Brendan Shanahan had all gone their separate ways. Markus Naslund was (and still is) one of my favorite players, but his play wasn’t enough either, as he was signed to replace the production of those who left. This left New York with a team with talented players, but a team that struggled to put the puck in the back of the net.
I knew everything about Marian Gaborik and was always fascinated by the way he was fast and deadly on the ice. How can you forget someone who scored five goals for your favorite team a few years earlier? Before coming to New York, Gaborik spent eight seasons with the Wild from 2000 to 2009, where he became the team’s all-time leading scorer and one of the best pure snipers in the game.
So you can imagine that as a teenager I went absolutely crazy when the news broke that July afternoon. Marian Gaborik signed with the Rangers on the first day of free agency on July 1. The deal was reported for a $37.5 million contract over five years. I was already into hockey a lot by that time in my life, but this was a shock to the system for me and I couldn’t wait until October finally came.
Gaborik burst out of the gate as a Ranger and scored ten goals in his first twelve games. Despite the Rangers finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference and missing the 2010 playoffs by one point, Marian Gaborik delivered an excellent first season with the club, instantly endearing himself to the Ranger fans.
Marian Gaborik played in 76 games, tied his career high with 42 goals and set a new personal best with 44 assists for 86 points. He led the team in goals, assists and points. His 42 goals ranked fifth in the NHL, behind only Patrick Marleau, Alexander Ovechkin and league leaders Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos, while his 86 points ranked 10th overall.
Gaborik’s second season with the Rangers in 2010–11 was limited by injuries. Just three games into the season, he suffered a shoulder injury after taking an illegal boarding hit in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The injury sidelined him for almost a month and affected his playing style after his return, particularly his powerful wrist shot.
Possibly due to the lingering effects of multiple injuries, Marian Gaborik became a streaky scorer, finishing the season with 22 goals and 26 assists in 62 games, with 12 of his goals coming in just four games. The performance was still impressive considering the injuries and the looming influence of a coach who didn’t like his style of play.
A notable performance took place on January 19, 2011, when Marian Gaborik scored four goals and an assist in a 7-0 win over Toronto. The Rangers clinched a playoff spot as the eighth seed with a 5–2 win over the New Jersey Devils in the final game of the regular season, their first return to the playoffs since Gaborik joined the team.
He recorded an assist on the game-winning goal and finished with a plus-minus rating of plus-2. In the first round of the 2011 playoffs against the top-seeded Washington Capitals, the Rangers were eliminated in five games. Gaborik totaled one goal and one assist for two points in the series.
On January 29, 2012, Gaborik was named MVP of the 59th NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa. He completed the 2011–12 season playing all 82 games, recording 41 goals and 35 assists for 76 points. He led the Rangers in goals and total points and finished second on the team in assists.
The Rangers earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference and finished second overall in the Presidents’ Trophy race behind the Vancouver Canucks. Marian Gaborik ranked third in the NHL with 41 goals, behind Evgeni Malkin’s 50 and leader Steven Stamkos’ 60.
Shortly after midnight on May 3, Gaborik scored one triple winning goal in extra time against the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, giving the Rangers a 2–1 series lead and ending one of the longest playoff games in team history.
The Rangers then defeated the Capitals in seven games before losing to the New Jersey Devils in six games in the Eastern Conference Final. Gaborik finished the 2012 playoffs with five goals and six assists for 11 points across 20 games. No matter how much or how little he produced, I was always there supporting him hard.
When the lockout-shortened 2012–13 NHL season began, Marian Gaborik, who had remained inactive during the labor dispute, struggled to regain his previous scoring form. His performance was often overshadowed by the arrival of Rick Nash. After scoring nine goals in 35 games, Gaborik was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets at the deadline on April 3, 2013, along with minor leaguers Blake Parlett and Steven Delisle, in exchange for Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore and a sixth-round draft pick. I was devastated.
I was sitting in the hallway of my university waiting for the local bus to take me home when I heard about the profession. In typical JL fashion, I tried to rationalize why the deal had been made, but I was still heartbroken. Marian Gaborik was a player who struggled with injuries and played under a coach who did not really favor him.
Despite this, he had some impressive seasons as a Rangers forward. There were countless nights where Marian Gaborik was the only offensive force on the ice, literally taking control of games and setting the Rangers up for victory.
Night after night, Marian Gaborik gave everything and scored goals for the team. Although the Rangers didn’t win a Stanley Cup during his time, he was still one of their best signings in years. I always believed that Gaborik could score and help the team win. His scoring flair was exactly what the Rangers needed.
In 255 games as a Ranger, Gaborik recorded 114 goals, 115 assists and a +30 plus-minus rating, including 81 even-strength goals, 32 on the power play, one shorthanded and 19 game winners, solidifying his role as the Blueshirts’ primary offensive weapon.
Gaborik was a force to be reckoned with during his tenure as a Ranger, and I will look back on that time fondly, as I am sure many others will too.
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