Franchise Picks a Source of Frustration

By Mike Chen
November 24, 2008




Marian Gaborik and David Legwand don’t have too much in common. Gaborik is a speedy scorer from the Czech Republic while Legwand is a U.S.-born center. Gaborik’s contractual future is uncertain while Legwand signed a long-term extension last season. Gaborik scores highlight-reel goals for the Minnesota Wild (when healthy) while Legwand is a fixture on both the penalty kill and the power play for the Nashville Predators.

What do they have in common? Both were the first draft picks in their respective franchises’ history and both are entering the prime of their careers. And both are currently the subject of much fan frustration and discussion.

(Another thing they have in common: both will be seen on Versus this week – Gaborik’s Wild will face Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Monday night while Legwand’s Predators will face Keith Tkachuk and the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday Night).

For Legwand, Predators’ fans and management are resigned to the fact that the No. 2 overall pick from the 1998 draft will never be a point-per-game franchise player. However, what he’s evolved into – a reliable two-way forward capable of 60-70 points a season – isn’t exactly a bad thing. In fact, GM David Poile felt comfortable enough with Legwand’s progression that her received a six-year, $27-million extension in 2007.

However, Legwand hasn’t lived up to his end of the bargain. He hasn’t played necessarily awful (about .6 points per game), but Legwand is counted on to be a key part of the overall team’s defense. The Predators have scored by committee this season, but the normally stingy Nashville squad is having trouble keeping the puck out of the net. As one of the team’s best defensive forwards, Legwand’s lack of effort on the backcheck hasn’t sat well with the Nashville faithful – and the fact that his point production has dipped certainly isn’t helping.

In Minnesota, it’s a different story as Gaborik has barely touched the ice. The oft-injured Gaborik has only played two games, leaving Wild fans to roll their eyes and mutter, “Gee, he’s hurt again? What a surprise.” No one questions Gaborik’s talent; it’s his durability and, to some degree, his work ethic. For his all-world speed and shot, Gaborik remains an enigma – and with the emergence of Mikku Koivu as an offensive powerhouse, Gaborik’s value to the franchise is constantly put into question.

Still, offensive production is at a premium for the Wild, and it’s not like a player of Gaborik’s talent wouldn’t provide a boost. The question really comes down to this: would trading Gaborik (on the last year of his contract) bring more in return than Gaborik’s injured-but-talented presence? Gaborik’s fragile nature isn’t exactly a secret in the NHL, and one of the problems is that few GMs want to take a chance on that.

For Gaborik and Legwand, the pressure is on but the outcome will certainly be different between the two. It’s almost certain that Legwand won’t be moving anytime soon; while he’s not the face of the Predators franchise, he’s certainly an integral part and his play hasn’t been poor enough to warrant rampant trade rumors.

On the other hand, Gaborik’s future will be continuously debated until he signs a new contract. Will that be in Minnesota? For many hockey observers, it’s not a question of if, but when will Gaborik be traded. 

Mike Chen has covered the NHL for various media outlets for more than a decade. His blog appears on Kukla's Korner and he also contributes to the Battle of California.