Sather Willing to Listen to Offers for Gaborik, But Should He Pull the Trigger?

“The Rangers have traded RW Marian Gaborik to...” What would the reaction be by Rangers fans on Feb. 28^th (Trade Deadline) to see a sentence start out like that? Some might be overjoyed considering how far Gaborik’s star has fallen this year. I’ll tell you what it should be: outrage and sheer panic.

Gaborik has not come close at all to matching his sensational output from a year ago, when he would step foot on the ice and immediately become a threat offensively. To date, the 28-year-old Slovakian only has 16 goals and 18 assists in 42 games - paltry numbers for a player of that caliber. Although, what’s troublesome about those numbers is that 10 of his goals have come in 3 games, including a 4-goal frenzy against the Toronto Maple Leafs a few weeks back. Gaborik also had an assist in each of those 3 games. An optimistic Rangers fan might be happy that Gaborik has 3 hat tricks this season. However, a realistic Rangers fan removes those games from his line and discovers Gaborik has collected a meager 6 goals and 15 assists in 39 games.

Despite the drop in production and what looks to be malaise on the ice occasionally from the gifted sniper, it doesn’t mean pull the panic button and close the book on him in only his 2^nd year on Broadway. New York is an extremely tough city to perform in. The passionate fans and relentless media coverage can be overwhelming. Yet, Gaborik proved last year he could play here. On the other hand, GM Glen Sather wouldn’t be doing his job if wasn’t listening to offers for his players. But what is “listening” mean anyways in terms of being a GM? 

New Jersey could call up and say “We’ll give you Rod Pelley and a 7-th round draft pick for Marian Gaborik. Whaddya say?” Obviously, Sather will listen for roughly 15 seconds before promptly hanging up the phone and erasing Lou Lamariello’s from his contacts forever. But what if the GM of the L.A. Kings, a young team with talent, struggling offensively and looking to make a huge push to the playoffs, offers an NHL ready player, or a highly touted prospect along with draft picks for Gaborik’s services? Sounds tempting, it frees up cap space and makes the team younger for the future. Sather would have due diligence to at least “listen” to the offer. One of his objectives is to see how he can improve the product he puts out on the ice as well.

Would he do a deal like that, with his own team mired in the same struggles and on the playoff bubble? Not a chance. If they were in 10 points out of the playoffs, going nowhere, and having no legitimate chance then Sather would be inclined to entertain a deal like that further. It would signal the Rangers are looking towards next season and beyond.

But the Rangers are still in the thick of things with less than 30 games to go. Which means Marian Gaborik is going nowhere. He is the lone game-changing talent on the team. To trade him away would be playoff suicide for the Rangers. It would prompt unmerciful hatred towards the already disliked Glen Sather. 

Fans must be patient with Marian Gaborik. At some point, with the level of talent he possesses, he will turn things around. I hate to sound cliché but it’s warranted here: Ranger fans won’t know what they have in Gaborik until he’s gone.