One Step Forward Two Steps Back for Wild

SAINT PAUL , Minn. – Oft injured and hotly debated star Marian Gaborik returned to the ice for the Minnesota Wild Sunday in a matinee against the Edmonton Oilers. Gaborik has been out of the line up since late December and has played just seven games for the team this season. In the midst of a contract dispute, the pending free agent chose to undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip after being in and out of the line up since the beginning of the season.

Gaborik has been lambasted by local fans and media as being soft, and his reputation is in disarray as he enters unrestricted free agency. Rumors are flying, and Wild GM Doug Risebrough has confirmed that he would still like to re-sign Gaborik, at least to a short term deal. The relationship between the two sides has been so damaged, however, that this situation seems less and less likely as the days pass. Gaborik is reported to have passed up an offer of over $8 million ( US) per season on a long-term contract. Gaborik’s return to the ice was not met with much fan reaction at the Xcel Energy Center, neither with boos, or a standing ovation. This may sum up where the fans in Minnesota stand with Gaborik. There was excitement before the season, but disappointment when Gaborik missed the beginning of the season,, Their was a build up to his return, only to be disappointed again when he underwent surgery, all the while reports of him passing on a lucrative contract with the team. The fans have seemingly moved on from Gaborik, knowing that the team is not the same without him, but knowing that the team will still skate regardless of if he is in the lineup or not. Mikko Koivu Joins list of Injured Wild In the same game against Edmonton that saw one Wild star return to the lineup, the Wild lost Captain Mikko Koivu to a knee injury . Koivu’s injury has been described as a “huge loss” by Coach Jacques Lemaire, indicating that it may be a fairly significant injury causing him to miss a large amount of time, possibly the rest of the season. The loss of Koivu at such a critical time in the season when the Wild were just one point away from a playoff spot is arguably a bigger loss for the Wild than that of Gaborik. Koivu is the top line center, and is really the only true talent the organization has at that position. Koivu joins star defenseman Brent Burns on the list of walking wounded. Burns is out with “concussion-like symptoms” and has not played since March 5^th. In addition to Burns and Koivu, forward Andrew Brunette has been playing with what could be a completely torn ACL in his right knee, and Owen Nolan leads the team in goals despite playing with a broken toe. Wild Continue to Fight Despite the rollercoaster season that has seen them beat elite teams such as San Jose and Detroit, yet lose to teams outside the playoff race, the Wild are currently just one point behind Nashville for the final playoff spot in the West. Making the playoffs would be a huge victory for the team considering that they have skated without their all-time leading scorer in Gaborik for the vast majority of the season, they have not found a way to replace his offense, and are being led in goals by 37 year old Owen Nolan, the Wild have continued to suffer from a bout of inconsistency that has plagued the squad for three seasons. With Gaborik returning to the lineup, but nowhere near 100%, their top defenseman in Burns missing nearly a month of action, and now their best player in Koivu going out with an injury that has yet to be assessed, the Wild have shown some real resolve to still be in the fight for a playoff spot.
Having Jacques Lemaire behind the bench has continued to be a plus for the organization as he continues to find a way to win with a lineup riddled with injuries and made up mostly of muckers and grinders. The final few weeks of the season will certainly be interesting here in Minnesota. The author can be reached at bryan.reynolds@prohockeynews.com