I really like Michael Russo’s hockey articles and I think he is one of the best in the business and this latest article on former Wild star Marian Gaborik is top shelf. It’s almost as if Gabby could see this coming.

You have to wonder how long the Wild Management will hold on to first round bust and dead weight Benoit Pouliot and James Sheppard? I honestly think that Richards has played them to see if they will play out of their funk and they haven’t. Now newly acquired forward Petr Sykora has already played himself out of the line up.

As the Wild keeps losing (it is 3-9), Gaborik keeps scoring (10 goals), although in a fitting twist of irony, Gaborik's St. Paul homecoming is threatened tonight because of that oh-so familiar "lower body" injury. He hasn't skated since Monday.

But let's be honest: Gaborik's fast start under the Broadway spotlight was as predictable as a rush-hour traffic jam through the Lincoln Tunnel.

If you're a disgruntled, Gaborik-loving Wild fan who plans to spend the next five years keeping one eye on the Rangers, you're going to give yourself an aneurysm by January.

Gaborik, tied for second in the NHL with 10 goals and third with 18 points, is an incredible talent. From a goals-per-game standpoint since the lockout, Gaborik's name can be uttered in the same breath as Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk. The only thing that's impeded Gaborik from becoming a true superstar is that dirty five-letter word that starts with "G" and ends with "roin."
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In most cases, stars are home-grown draft picks, which is why it's imperative the Wild starts developing these players. The Wild has nothing coming in the near future as far as skilled forwards. Nothing.

This is a franchise that has managed to draft and develop arguably one top-six forward since 2002 -- Pierre-Marc Bouchard -- and three in its history -- Gaborik, Mikko Koivu and Bouchard. It botched the 2004 first-round selection of A.J. Thelen, and it appears the Wild flubbed the 2005 and 2006 drafts with Benoit Pouliot and James Sheppard.

That's why even though it will be painful for the Wild and its fans, losing, real losing, has its benefits. It won't be fun, but a high draft pick next summer will help the Wild rebuild. This team needs an influx of young talent. It needs to develop another Gaborik.

Gaborik wasn't perfect. He had defensive deficiencies. He often was injured. He might even have been "one-dimensional." But he possessed the dimension teams need: He scores goals.

And as often is the case, you don't realize what you're missing until it's gone.

This is a franchise that has managed to draft and develop arguably one top-six forward since 2002 -- Pierre-Marc Bouchard -- and three in its history -- Gaborik, Mikko Koivu and Bouchard. It botched the 2004 first-round selection of A.J. Thelen, and it appears the Wild flubbed the 2005 and 2006 drafts with Benoit Pouliot and James Sheppard.
[Star Tribune]