Staple: Gaborik has been a very pleasant surprise
Photo credit: Getty Images | Marian Gaborik #10 of the New York Rangers celebrates his first period goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets. (November 23, 2009)
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Marian Gaborik
Raise your hand if you thought Marian Gaborik could do what he's done in his first two dozen games as a Ranger.
Yeah, me neither.
It's partly to do with the player having missed 138 games during the previous five seasons before signing a five-year, $30-million deal in July.
And it's partly to do with the long, long, long list of free agents and trade acquisitions who have come to New York on president Glen Sather's watch and caught the Big Apple Syndrome, which has afflicted many New York athletes as well, but seems particularly contagious around 33rd Street and 8th Avenue.
Eric Lindros, Pavel Bure, Vladimir Malakhov, Bobby Holik, Matt Cullen, Scott Gomez, Nik Zherdev and Wade Redden would seem to fall into that category. There are others, to be sure, but the likes of Dave Karpa, Igor Ulanov, Sandis Ozolinsh, Anson Carter, Brad Isbister, Patrick Rissmiller and Aaron Voros could be called, oh, talent misjudgments by the man in charge.
Gaborik is a different story so far, the anti-free agent. He's fulfilling his mega-deal, not playing for one.
How? Well, there are a few factors.
There's the medical. Dr. Marc Philippon already is a New York sports hero for turning Alex Rodriguez into a healthy, productive player. Philippon did wonders for Gaborik, arthroscopically repairing both of his hips last winter. Since returning to the ice late last season for the Wild, Gaborik has 29 goals and 51 points in 33 games.
There's the coaching. Jacques Lemaire got a lot out of Gaborik, considering the Wild's conservative style, and Lemaire certainly gets credit for making Gaborik into a better two-way player. But under John Tortorella's attacking style, Gaborik has room to be his creative self.
"I still have to take care of things defensively," Gaborik said, "but you're out there skating a lot and forechecking a lot. It's working for me so far."
There's also the star factor. Tortorella lets it be known that he relies on his top forwards to carry the load. He also talked openly about finding a "game-changer," his Rangers version of Martin St. Louis or Vinny Lecavalier, Tortorella's two stars with the Lightning.
"Gabby can take over a game," Tortorella said this past week after Gaborik did just that Monday against the Blue Jackets. With the Rangers down 2-0, Gaborik and his linemates controlled the play, leading to the first of his two goals. Gaborik had four points that night, and he just seems to be in the middle of everything.
"When you feel good, when you're healthy, things can just come your way," he said. "It's something special right now."
