Whenever Marian Gaborik is healthy enough to play again this season, his time with the Wild will likely be minimal, reports the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
The Wild and Gaborik's agent, Ron Salcer, haven't talked since September. Gaborik's injury makes him nearly impossible to sign or trade.
Salcer met with Gaborik in Minneapolis on Thursday and Friday. The superstar's future remains in limbo until he's healthy enough to play again.
"For anything good to happen for anybody, Marian has to be back on the ice playing and playing at a high level," Salcer told the Star-Tribune. "That's in our best interest and the Wild's best interest, so we're on the same page there."
Given the status of the economy and the chance that the $56.7 million salary cap will decrease in the coming seasons (not likely to be next year), it's uncertain if the Wild will be able to lock Gaborik up to a new deal.
The Wild already has 15 players and $38 million committed next year, and goalie Niklas Backstrom can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Wild GM Doug Risebrough started actively shopping Gaborik at the start of the season, before Gaborik's "lower-body injury."
Various league executives believe the Wild waiting too long to try and sign Gaborik and might have no other choice but to trade him.
"Marian's going to get back," Salcer said. "He's played pretty unbelievable for the first seven years of his career. He's just 26 and hasn't even come into his prime yet. His best years are ahead of him. We just have to get over this obstacle or hurdle, and he will, and he'll play at the level everyone expects and way better."
The Los Angeles Kings were among the teams seriously interested in Gaborik before his injury, and are believed to be still in the mix. Trade talks are expected to resume between the two clubs once Gaborik returns to the ice.
