Pal Demitra casts a vote: Wild should keep Gaborik

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Pavol Demitra, who spent the past two seasons with the Wild and now plays for the Vancouver Canucks, said if the Wild is smart, it will find a way to show his Slovak comrade the money.

Pavel Demitra, who spent the past two seasons with the Wild and now plays for the Vancouver Canucks, said if the Wild is smart, it'll find a way to show his Slovak comrade the money.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: November 11, 2008 - 7:40 AM

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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Like all good friends, Pavol Demitra's got Marian Gaborik's back.

Demitra, who spent the past two seasons with the Wild and now plays for the Vancouver Canucks, said if the Wild is smart, it'll find a way to show his Slovak comrade the money.

"I think [the Wild] should keep him; he's a top player. He's a special player, obviously, with his speed and his shot. He proves it every year," said Demitra, who, like Gaborik, is not playing because of an injury.

Gaborik is in a contract dispute with the Wild, which -- at least during training camp -- was trying to prevent him from becoming a free agent next summer by signing him to an extension.

But the sides have not talked in five weeks.

Gaborik's reputation has been hit hard in the Twin Cities, both for not signing an extension and his latest "lower body" injury that has caused him to miss 11 of 13 games this season.

But Demitra said the media and Wild fans should get off Gaborik's back.

"I think it's unfair," Demitra said. "He does so much for Minnesota; he's a great player, and hockey is a tough business. Everybody is looking for his best options. But a player like that, they should always choose to keep him. But a lot of stuff is in the paper, and nobody really sees what's inside.

"I just feel bad for Gaby. He's a great player; he just needs to get healthy -- whatever it takes to get healthy and get back on the ice."

Demitra's departure from Minnesota -- not that the Wild tried to keep him or that he even wanted to stay -- is a reminder of how the complexion of trades can change with time.

When the Wild traded Patrick O'Sullivan and a first-round pick to Los Angeles at the 2006 draft, General Manager Doug Risebrough was lauded. Not only did Demitra's arrival instantly turn the Wild into a playoff contender, Risebrough acquired one of Gaborik's closest friends.

Remember, Gaborik was a year from becoming the youngest unrestricted free agent in history, and there were signs agent Ron Salcer was preparing to play hardball then, too.

But in his first media conference call, Demitra warned Gaborik, "He better sign for a long time."

Days later, Gaborik signed a three-year, $19 million contract.

Two years and two Wild first-round exits later, Demitra's gone and playing for the Wild's chief rival, Gaborik appears destined to be gone and, boy, think the Wild wishes it had O'Sullivan and that first-rounder back?

Plus, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that Gaborik reunites with his buddy Pav next summer. The Canucks have the salary-cap room and a new GM in Mike Gillis who is just itching to make a splash (i.e. a two-year, $20 million offer to out-of-work, 37-year-old Mats Sundin).

Asked if there's a chance Gaborik could join him in Vancouver, Demitra, who talks to Gaborik almost every day, said, "I don't know; you should ask him."

Demitra said he enjoyed his time in Minnesota, but both sides were ready to move on. The Wild focused solely on trying to re-sign Brian Rolston, which didn't happen, and Demitra visited Vancouver in early May to explore the city. His agent, Gillis, was just hired as the GM.

"I was looking for a new opportunity," Demitra said. "Obviously it was great playing with Gaby, but when the season's over, you start thinking about what you really want to do, and this is the place I really wanted to go."

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