Continued: Wild Insider: Team stuck in the middle with Gaborik

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Marian Gaborik's long-term future with the Wild never has been more uncertain.

General Manager Doug Risebrough told the Star Tribune on Friday that he does not expect to sign Gaborik, who is one season from unrestricted free agency, to a contract extension by the start of the season.

"Not making any headway," said Risebrough, who last month said it would be prudent to sign Gaborik, the team's all-time leading scorer, to an extension by next Saturday's season opener. "I was trying to do something before the season. It's not happening. ... It's not going to happen by the start of the season."

Asked if he'll react by putting Gaborik on the trading block, Risebrough said, "That, I'll have to determine."

Asked if he already has started talking to other teams, Risebrough said, "I'm not going to comment anymore."

It should be noted that previously when asked that same question, Risebrough had said emphatically, "I'm not talking to anybody, and I'm not interested in talking to anybody."

Gaborik, 26, who has hit the 30-goal mark five times in seven seasons and last season had a franchise-record 42 goals and 83 points, maintains he wants to stay in Minnesota and has told his agent, Ron Salcer, just that.

"I've said numerous times, 'Ronnie, just deal with them. Ronnie, I want to get the deal done,'" Gaborik said.

"So that's where we are. But we can't control what they do."

Risebrough said, "I don't think this will be a distraction for the team. We wanted to put this behind us because people are going to ask me [about it] every day, and they're going to ask him every day. That's the distraction, but not for the team."

The Wild and Gaborik have declined to identify what the Wild is offering and what Gaborik is seeking. The Wild has indicated it's offering Gaborik a long-term contract in line with the highest-paid players in the NHL, which is a narrow margin.

Alex Ovechkin makes the most at $9.538 million a year. Next up are Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin at $8.7 million. Some stars in the $7 million to $8 million range include Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier, Ottawa's Dany Heatley, Detroit's Marian Hossa, San Jose's Joe Thornton and Calgary's Jarome Iginla.

Asked if he "worried or cared" if the Wild trades him, Gaborik said, "I'll say again, I can't control what they do. They've been negotiating with Ronnie and I haven't gotten into it. I want to focus right now, like I've said numerous times, on hockey, playing and getting ready for the season. I want to be ready and enjoy it and just go from there."

There comes a point, however, where actions speak louder than words. If Gaborik is rejecting contracts in the $8.5 million range, for instance, the Wild might have to conclude he doesn't want to be in Minnesota.

If that's the case, the Wild probably will have to shop Gaborik around the league. It's one thing to lose Brian Rolston and Pavol Demitra for nothing. It's another to lose an asset like Gaborik without getting something in return.

The problem is getting fair value back when a potential trade partner cannot be certain Gaborik would re-sign there long-term. If he's not willing to sign in Minnesota, a place he has lived since 2000, for the next seven to 10 years, why would he commit to that length of stay in a place with which he's unfamiliar?

Said Salcer: "We have no obligation other than Marian to honor his contract and play hard. That's his job and that's what he'll do. It's their team. They're entitled to run it the way they want to run it. We haven't come to an amicable conclusion, and we'll see how they proceed. If they decide they want to move him, that's their decision."

Asked if he'd consider a sign-and-trade -- where Risebrough gives Salcer permission to negotiate with a potential trade suitor -- Gaborik said, "That's pushing the fast-forward button a little bit."

If Risebrough trades Gaborik, it would be logical to assume it would be to an Eastern Conference team, although it's believed Vancouver and Los Angeles have strong interest.

Usually when trades of this magnitude are made, general managers feel most comfortable dealing with their closest friends.

Risebrough's circle of good friends includes Montreal's Bob Gainey, the New York Rangers' Glen Sather and Toronto's Cliff Fletcher.

Montreal makes sense. The Canadiens have lots of salary-cap room and lots of up-and-coming players and prospects. It would be difficult for the Rangers to take on a contract like Gaborik's without giving up Scott Gomez's $7.4 million-a-year contract.

Pittsburgh is another interesting suitor. After all, last season when the Penguins thought they had a legitimate chance at the Stanley Cup, they acquired Hossa from Atlanta.

Risebrough is keeping everything close to the vest. Would he continue negotiating into the season? He wouldn't say. But Gaborik's history of injuries makes waiting risky. The Wild could conceivably get nothing if he's hurt.

"You're talking about a step that I'm not necessarily at yet -- moving him," Risebrough said. "I'm probably more worried about his injuries and how it relates to his being able to perform than I am worrying about whether it affects his trade value."

Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com