Ha!  It’ll be interesting to see what he ends up at after a career riddled with injury.  Sather’s probably the only guy who would pay that.

Posted by Kirk from St. Paul on 07/01/09 at 05:50 PM ET

Sather’s probably the only guy who would pay that.

EDM’s desperate enough to as well.

Posted by Primis on 07/01/09 at 05:52 PM ET

Ha! Wow. If these teams can’t afford Heatley’s contract, how in the world are they going to afford Gaborik’s? 7.5 million a year is a lot for a guy who will probably only play half the season… if you’re lucky.

Posted by Josh from Tampa on 07/01/09 at 05:55 PM ET

7.5 million a year is a lot for a guy who will probably only play half the season… if you’re lucky.

And yet, if that’s the worst he does it’ll still be better than Heatley’s worst, no?  Bang on Gabby all we want for being hurt and missing games, but at least to our knowledge he’s not causing problems in the locker room or out endangering the lives of teammates away from the rink…

Posted by Primis on 07/01/09 at 05:59 PM ET

Personally, I can’t imagine Gaborik is insisting on that kind of money or contract length.  The fact that someone’s leaking this in the media makes me think this is more negotiating-gamesmanship, than legitimate numbers being tossed around.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 07/01/09 at 06:04 PM ET

What I have heard about Gaborik is an insurance issue exists.

Teams may not be able to take out insurance on him, which normally pays 80% of the players salary if he mises more than 30 games.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 07/01/09 at 06:06 PM ET

Well, if Gaborik and his agent think anyone will pay Gaborik $75 for 10 years, then they are both smoking cheap crack!!!  Especially given his egg-shell fragility and a team’s inability to put insurance on him.

Posted by habscout on 07/01/09 at 06:17 PM ET

I guess Salcer picked a Bad week to stop sniffing Glue

Posted by Evilpens on 07/01/09 at 06:32 PM ET

While we’re dealing with foolish demands, I would like eleventy-billion dollars, a Lamborghini, a mansion, and Marisa Miller.

Posted by cs6687 on 07/01/09 at 06:53 PM ET

Funny, Hossa has played better then gaborick and is way less injury prone. Yet he accepts a deal for 63 million over 12 years.  While gaborick who is more fragile then glass, is asking for 12 million more with 2 years less.

I want what his agent is smoking.

Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 07/01/09 at 06:57 PM ET

If Gaborik wanted $75 mill over 10 years but not with the Wild, he should have signed the deal with the Wild last sumer then pulled a Heatley and asked to be traded.  Call Gaborik delusional for asking for that amount now but don’t say he lacks in principles.

Posted by Callmejerry from Vancouver on 07/01/09 at 07:04 PM ET

While we’re dealing with foolish demands, I would like eleventy-billion dollars, a Lamborghini, a mansion, and Marisa Miller.

Posted by cs6687 on 07/01/09 at 07:53 PM ET

Trebek: Keanu Reeves, let’s see what you wrote for final jeopardy… and you wrote… nothing. Your wager… Eleventy Billion Dollars. That isn’t even a real number.

Reeves: Yet…

Posted by 92In82 on 07/01/09 at 07:15 PM ET

Gaborik signed with the Rangers, 5 years.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 07/01/09 at 07:24 PM ET