Marian Gaborik was excused from the Wild's brief practice on Thursday at Xcel Energy Center. He was in civilian clothes in the home locker room when a group of reporters and minicam operators were able to surround him.
Gaborik was 21 when he led the Wild to the third round of the playoffs in 2003. He was much less comfortable in interview situations than he is today.
He was guarded in his comments then because it was only his third year in this country and his English remained halting.
When he's guarded with his comments now, it's because that is the way he has chosen to play it.
The Wild has sold out every game in its seven seasons in St. Paul. Gaborik was the team's first draft choice -- No. 3 overall in June 2000 -- and has been in the lineup since the get-go.
You would think his star status with a team of such popularity would make Gaborik more of a celebrity than has been the case. Yet, Adrian Peterson had a couple of 200-yard rushing games for a mediocre NFL team and rates as more of an icon with the Minnesota sporting public than Gaborik with his years of excellence.
Lou Nanne, the hockey man who did everything with the North Stars and has followed the Wild intently, said: "I would rate Gaborik and Mike Modano as the two top NHL offensive players we've had in Minnesota. Bobby Smith and Neal Broten are up there, too, but they didn't have the goal-scoring ability of Gaborik.
"And Goldy [Bill Goldsworthy] had the goal-scoring, but not the rest of it -- not the speed, not the passing ability, not even the shot that you see with Gaborik. He has it all."