Larry Brooks, of the NYP, caught up with newly signed Ranger Marian Gaborik at the MSG training center and talked about the
type of players he likes to play with, his health and coming to NYC.
Gaborik on the type of player he likes to play with:
“I can go one-on-one in certain situations, but I like to play with a center who carries the puck while I get open,” Gaborik, the former Minnesota sniper who signed a five-year, $37.5 million free-agent contract on July 1, told The Post on Friday while he visited the club’s training facility in Greenburgh.
“I feel like I can create chances for myself, but I prefer looking for holes to get open where the defense maybe isn’t looking for me or expecting me. I played with a lot of different centers the last couple of years in Minnesota, so we’ll see.
“I’m not worried about that, though. I don’t think it will be a problem.”
They couldn’t have signed Gaborik if they didn’t move Scott Gomez, but, Gomez is the type of player that Gaborik likes to play with and Gaborik finally would have been a perfect fit for Gomez. However, Brandon Dubinsky has shown a Gomez like ability to carry the puck through the zone and pass it to the open man. Dubi should get first crack at centering Gaborik as he suits the type of game that Gaborik likes to play the best.
“I’m very confident that the problems with my health are in the past and that if I’m healthy, I can produce the way I expect to,” said Gaborik, who traveled here from his home in Trencin, Slovakia, to search for an apartment in Manhattan.
“This is going to be a big change for me after only playing in Minnesota for [eight] years, but I’m very excited about the challenge. I’m going to try to do what I do best, which is to try to make a difference on the ice every time I’m out there.
“I try to be the best player every game.”
He says all the right things and seems to have the right mental state, if he is healthy we could be seeing something special this fall.
“I try to make things happen when I’m out there. I think I’m an exciting player to watch,” Gaborik said. “The fans will have to see and judge for themselves, but maybe I can score five goals in a game for the Rangers this time.”
Yes, please do.


I can’t wait for October: cool weather, colorful trees, football in full swing, and the start of the NHL season and the end of all this useless speculation. It’s all we have right now, I know, but I can’t wait until it’s over and the season starts.
I think Dubi can do it. He’s got very good skating ability. He’s already played with Jagr and has had some success. But no more he’s still very young excuses. It’s time for Dubi to score 25-30 goals consistently. If he can do that the assists to Gaborik will be aplenty. If Dubi can’t be a consistent 25-30 goal scorer it’s time to trade him for somebody who is!