FOR SALE: Goal-Scoring Machine, Speed Demon, Wants Huge Contract

The inevitable is apparently a reality.

Superstar reporter Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is reporting that the Wild have placed forward Marian Gaborik on the trade block. Gaborik is due to be a free agent at the end of the season, and multiple contract offers have been made without a signature from the All-Star.

Rather than take a chance that they'll lose Gaborik when he hits the open market next summer (ala Brian Rolston), Wild general manager Doug Risebrough appears prepared to move Gaborik now. Obviously, there's risk in this plan, as "conventional wisdom" would dictate his value in a trade isn't going to be as high when the whole world knows the Wild have to make a move.

However, the risk of not getting enough in exchange for Gaborik is not as great as the risk of losing him for nothing in the off-season.

It's believed Risebrough has had trade talks with Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey and Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi. Risebrough will attend Thursday's GM meetings in Chicago, so talks could heat up with a number of teams.

The Canadiens, in their 100th season and a true Stanley Cup contender, might be the team that makes the most sense. The Canadiens have salary cap flexibility in future years and young talent.

Russo goes out of his way to make clear that Gaborik's current "lower body injury" is legitimate. He reports on his blog that the injury occurred during an off-day activity in South Florida.

While this could be construed as distressing news to Wild fans, at least Risebrough is being proactive on the matter. Gaborik has a long history of injury, and there's no question that a reported ten-year, $80 million-plus offer represented an incredibly bold move by the organization. To have Gaborik turn that offer down had to serve as quite a shock to Risebrough.

In short, it's hard to pin this totally on Risebrough. He's made the effort to sign guys like Marian Hossa, Kristian Huselius, and Brendan Morrison. He has tried pretty hard to re-sign Gaborik.

Now, he should try pretty hard to trade Gaborik. If the Wild can find a way to get an established younger player, a couple prospects, and a draft pick or two in the deal, they'll have done well. That might be a lot to ask for Gaborik, but it's hard to deny his potential.

He's 26, he has a 40-goal season in his pocket, he performed wonderfully in the 2003 playoffs (admittedly five years ago, but it was still impressive), and he has his best years ahead of him.

The Wild should have no real problem finding a solid suitor for their first and only star player.