In ranking the top 25 right wings for next season over at Puck
Daddy, Sam McCraig had Marian Gaborik of the New York Rangers come in at
the sixth spot. Interesting to see
Gaborik ranked so highly at his position despite last year’s down season, but
it shows how respected his talent is around the league and the belief that last
year was clearly an aberration. Here is what McCraig had to say about the Slovakian sniper:
6. Marian Gaborik, New York Rangers: If this Brad Richards thing works out — and if he can stay healthy — there's no reason Gaborik can't challenge for the Rocket Richard Trophy as the league's top goal-scorer.
All Rangers fans hope that both of those things McCraig is basing his
projection on do work out.
There is no reason not to expect at least 40 goals from Gaborik with 50 a distinct possibility if he
has both health and chemistry with Richards. Getting up into the upper 40's or 50+ would certainly put Gaborik in the running for the Rocket Richard next season.
Ryan Callahan was listed as an honorable mention on the list, though he
probably should have squeezed in ahead of a Erat and maybe Jagr at this stage of his career.
Looking at the list more generally though it is tough based off of
2010-11 to rank Gaborik, along with others, ahead of Martin St. Louis who
continues to not only defy age, but get better with it. The player that got slighted the most, other
than St. Louis is Claude Giroux as he should probably be no worse than #8. Grabner not being only an honorable mention
is a mistake as well, but overall the list has the right guys in generally the
right areas.
