Gaborik's return to Wild a step closer

The Wild star practiced for the first time since October, but coach Jacques Lemaire doesn't want him rushing back too soon.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: December 10, 2008 - 7:48 AM

Surprise, surprise. Marian Gaborik -- yes, that Marian Gaborik -- showed up Tuesday, in the flesh, and practiced with the Wild for the first time in nearly two months.

But coach Jacques Lemaire said this good news shouldn't be construed as "Marian Gaborik to the Rescue."

The Wild certainly could use Gaborik's offense -- the team has scored once in the past two games -- but Lemaire said Gaborik's return was only the "first step" to hopefully getting him back into games.

When asked if Gaborik -- who has missed 24 consecutive games -- would play on the upcoming trip to Phoenix, Los Angeles and Anaheim, Lemaire said: "No, no, no, no, no. He's not ready to play."

Gaborik, however, has loftier goals.

"We're going to [see] how it is [this morning] and take it from there," he said. "If everything goes good, hopefully I can play on the trip, but we'll see."

The Wild will leave this morning for Arizona, and the Wild says Gaborik will travel. But, technically, it could be only to practice. The Wild has two practices scheduled -- this afternoon in Glendale, Ariz., and Friday in El Segundo, Calif.

Lemaire said it meant "nothing" if Gaborik did or did not make the trip, but Lemaire's mantra is, "If you don't practice, you don't play." So if Gaborik missed the next five days, one would think his return would have at least been decelerated.

Gaborik, wearing the customary "Fragile, Handle with Care" lime green sweater on Tuesday, participated in all non-contact drills and lasted the entire practice. It was his first full practice since Oct. 13 (he was injured Oct. 15). The last time Gaborik skated with non-injured players, during an optional morning skate Oct. 30, he suffered a setback.

So on Tuesday, Lemaire had what could best be described as an "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude.

"He looked OK," Lemaire said. "For the first day with us, he was fine. Still has a long ways to go -- conditioning. But it's good that he's back."

Gaborik, who often seemed emotionally disconnected from the Wild the past several weeks, was back to his old self Tuesday. He was chirping at teammates on the ice and smiling often.

"It's always good to get out there and skate with people around," Gaborik said. "It's been awhile, so it's good to be back. Hopefully, I can gradually keep picking it up and get to the point I can jump to the games. I'm looking forward to that."

Center Eric Belanger said: "It was good to see him go through a full practice. He looked cautious, I would say. He didn't want to push it too hard."

That was evident. Whenever Gaborik wasn't participating in a drill, he would slip behind his teammates and test his skating. In between, he would stretch his upper leg muscles.

"Obviously I wasn't going 100 percent," Gaborik said. "First practice is totally different than skating alone. There's things happening that you don't know they're happening. You're in kind of an uncontrolled environment.

"Hopefully it's going to get better and better every day, and I feel more confident."

Overshadowed by Gaborik's return was defenseman Kurtis Foster's first full practice since March. Foster, recovering from a broken leg, had been participating in gameday skates.

"I'm still a ways away, but I'm feeling good," Foster said.

As for Gaborik? Asked what to expect, Lemaire -- in reference to critics who believe he holds Gaborik back -- said sarcastically: "If we're not too strict with his defense, we'll be fine. He'll be able to get some goals."

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