I don't like being the bearer of bad news, but sometimes it just can't be stopped.
After all, I'm not smart enough to create the news. I just report it.
In this case, the news is not good for Minnesota Wild fans. Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune has an item up in his blog tonight that may be a harbinger of bad things to come for the Wild.
The Marian Gaborik negotiations have hit a stalemate, and GM Doug Risebrough told me today he won't be signed by the Oct. 11 opener.Might as well start packing the bags, Marian.
"Not making any headway," said Risebrough, who last month said it would be prudent to sign Gaborik, the team's all-time leading scorer, to an extension by next Saturday's season opener.
"I was trying to do something before the season. It's not happening. ... It's not going to happen by the start of the season."
Asked if he'll react by putting Gaborik on the trading block, Risebrough said, "That, I'll have to determine."
Minnesota fans are extremely patient, maybe to a fault. However, there was angst toward Wild management when the only move they could muster at the trade deadline was a deal for Chris Simon. That angst grew when Brian Rolston was allowed to walk at season's end. Risebrough didn't help himself much when he admitted he should have signed Rolston to an extension long ago.
Russo notes in his blog that he asked Risebrough about the prospect of trading Gaborik before, and the answer back then was basically "No way, Jose". Now, Risebrough is hedging.
He can't be seriously considering trading the best player (and only true star) in franchise history? Can he?
You'd think Dougie would learn his lesson. He's done some great things with this franchise, as has head coach Jacques Lemaire. But the fans aren't going to continue to pay to watch this team play when management does nothing to keep the star players around.
Yes, Gaborik will probably make upwards of $10 million on the open market. And that means he isn't at all obligated to give the Wild a discount. Given the average shelf life of a pro athlete, it's reasonable for him to seek the best offer he can find. It's also reasonable to suggest that the Wild are going to have to pay this type of money if the want to buy Gaborik out of free agency years.
So why won't they do it? They have the cap room. They have no one on the roster who is even remotely close to Gaborik's talent level. The fans love the guy.
Is there one good reason not to sign Gaborik, outside of Risebrough being too cheap to make it happen?
Craig Leipold has done nothing to make fans think he'll be a terrible owner, and he doesn't strike as the meddling type. But he may need to step in at some point to help make something happen.
The Wild can't afford to lose Gaborik, and they need him a helluva lot more than he needs them.
Sadly enough for the fans, it's probably time to start seriously preparing for this reality. The history of this franchise doesn't indicate that they'll make something good happen. And as long as they're selling out every home game with a massive season ticket waiting list, they aren't going to drastically change their ways.
