Wild-Gaborik take up their bargaining positions

Marian Gaborik and his agent weigh his options while the Wild emphasizes the benefits of a decision to remain in Minnesota.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: September 12, 2008 - 8:44 PM

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Wild assistant general manager Tom Lynn returned from Los Angeles on Thursday, but after meeting for two days with the agent for Marian Gaborik, the Wild isn't any closer to signing the prolific right winger to an extension.

"They certainly want to move the process forward and try to button something down, and we're not opposed to that. But it is a process," agent Ron Salcer said. "Marian's one year from becoming a free agent, and there is a premium paid when you become an unrestricted free agent.

"Instead of one team to negotiate with now, there would be 30 teams to talk to about a premier player. There haven't been many players to come out at this peak age in the prime of his career before. What that number would be is anybody's guess. On the other hand, we can eliminate that question mark now by something panning out that's amicable for both sides."

The Wild is willing to pay Gaborik, 26, upward of $8.5 million annually on a long-term deal that would keep Gaborik in Minnesota until his mid- to late 30s.

While it's true Gaborik may command more as a free agent next summer, GM Doug Risebrough said he thinks the Wild is being more than reasonable considering the three highest-paid NHL players in terms of average contract are superstars Alex Ovechkin ($9.538 million) and Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin ($8.7 million each).

Risebrough also sees other players signing extensions to stay on their current teams for less money than they'd receive as free agents.

"I believe players have to make choices, and I don't believe any choice we're asking Marian to make is unrealistic to what I'm hearing he wants to do -- be paid fairly, to have a winning team and to create some security for him long-term," Risebrough said.

"And I do know what other players are doing to stay where they are, and I don't believe there's a tremendous sacrifice there. Their motivation is to sign a good contract that has the term, the money and that the team has hope that they're going to fulfill their dreams as an individual. That's all here. We offer a lot in this market."

Didn't work for Rolston

The last time Risebrough insisted the Wild offered intangibles other teams couldn't meet was during the Brian Rolston negotiations. Risebrough clung to that point, and Rolston departed July 1 for New Jersey after it offered a fourth year and more than $5 million a year (the Wild offered three years at $4.5 million annually).

Salcer said it "doesn't only come down to dollars and cents. It's, 'Do you want to become an unrestricted free agent and see what else is out there, or are you willing to stay because you believe in the future where you are?'"

Risebrough said he's hearing different things from Gaborik and Salcer, but "that's because Ron has a job to do," such as getting his client as much money as possible.

Risebrough says he hasn't had a single trade discussion regarding Gaborik. "That's not what I'm trying to accomplish here," Risebrough said. "I'm emphatically saying, 'I'm not talking to anybody, and I'm not interested in talking to anybody.' I'm interested in trying to get Marian signed."

But that surely will change if Gaborik refuses to sign an extension. Risebrough said negotiations must conclude soon, especially with training camp beginning Friday and the season Oct. 11.

"I haven't decided yet [on a deadline], but the reality of it is this thing is not going to drag on," Risebrough said. "We've had lots of conversations in terms of negotiations. We have lots of things that we have articulated ... So it's not going to be a hard thing to conclude.

"I just don't know what the conclusion is."