Agent: Talks with Gaborik 'a smart move'

David Joles, Star Tribune

Coach Jacques Lemaire saw Marian Gaborik have his most productive regular season with the Wild: 42 goals and 41 assists.

Ron Salcer, who represents Marian Gaborik, said the Wild impressed the star winger last week in Slovakia.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: August 19, 2008 - 6:18 AM

While it's still uncertain whether the Wild will be able to work out an extension with its all-time leading scorer, Marian Gaborik's agent said Monday that last week's four-hour dinner meeting between Gaborik and Wild management might pay dividends.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for how they handled that," agent Ron Salcer said of the meeting among Gaborik, General Manager Doug Risebrough and assistant GM Tom Lynn in Slovakia.

"I can tell you, after talking to Marian, it made him feel really good the way they shared everything with him about the team and the future. I thought it was a smart move on their behalf. It was a very beneficial thing they did."

Salcer said at the very least Gaborik plans to fulfill his contract with the Wild this season. Salcer denied a report in the Russian newspaper, Sports-Express, that quoted Spartak Moscow President Nikolai Tischenko as saying he's had conversations with "Gaborik's agent" about the star playing for Spartak.

"I don't know anything about that. I've had no conversations [with any team in Russia about Gaborik]," Salcer said. "Marian has a year left on his contract with the Wild, and he's working hard and feeling good. He says he's coming to camp in the best shape he's ever been in.

"After that, we'll see where things go from there."

With Gaborik one year from unrestricted free agency, the Wild plans to offer him an extension in the $8.5 million range annually. Gaborik will make $7.5 million this season. Negotiations haven't begun; Salcer returned over the weekend from a month out of the country.

If the Wild isn't able to extend Gaborik's contract prior to the season (it opens Oct. 11 against Boston), it would be permitted to continue negotiations throughout the season. However, because of the distraction that could create and the risk of injury to Gaborik, the Wild might be forced to investigate trade options if there's a stalemate.

Asked if Gaborik is willing to commit to the Wild long-term, Salcer said, "My answer to that is Marian's enjoyed a great career there in Minny. He's made no decisions in that regard yet. He has a year left on his contract, and he plans to honor that contract. We'll see how things fall together from there.

"We're going to listen to anything the Wild have to say. The Wild have been a great organization for Marian, and we respect them greatly."