Marian Gaborik is a Slovakian professional ice hockey player who has had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted third overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut in the 2000-2001 season.
Gaborik quickly established himself as a skilled forward, known for his speed and scoring ability. He became the first player in Wild history to score 30 goals in a season, achieving the feat in the 2002-2003 season. He continued to be a top scorer for the Wild, leading the team in goals and points for several seasons.
In 2009, Gaborik became a free agent and signed with the New York Rangers. He had a strong first season with the team, scoring 42 goals and earning a spot in the NHL All-Star Game. However, injuries plagued Gaborik throughout his time with the Rangers, limiting his playing time and production.
After three seasons with the Rangers, Gaborik was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013. He had a strong start with the team, scoring 14 goals in his first 18 games. However, injuries once again derailed his season, and he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 2014.
Gaborik found success with the Kings, helping the team win the Stanley Cup in 2014. He scored 14 goals in the playoffs, including the game-winning goal in double overtime of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Gaborik continued to be a key player for the Kings, scoring 27 goals in the 2014-2015 season.
Injuries continued to be a problem for Gaborik in the later years of his career. He missed significant time due to injuries in the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons. In 2018, Gaborik was traded to the Ottawa Senators, where he played in only eight games before being placed on waivers and eventually traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Overall, Gaborik had a successful NHL career, scoring 407 goals and 408 assists for a total of 815 points in 1,035 games played. He was a two-time NHL All-Star and won two Olympic medals with the Slovakian national team. Despite his injury struggles, Gaborik will be remembered as a skilled and dynamic player who made a significant impact on the teams he played for.
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