Marián Gáborík facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marián Gáborík
Gáborík with the Minnesota Wild in 2009.
Born	(1982-02-14) 14 February 1982 (age 43) Trenčín, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Dukla Trenčín Minnesota Wild Färjestad BK New York Rangers Columbus Blue Jackets Los Angeles Kings Ottawa Senators
National team	Slovakia
NHL Draft	3rd overall, 2000 Minnesota Wild
Playing career	1998–2018

Marián Gáborík is a famous former professional ice hockey player from Slovakia. He was a right winger. He started his career in Slovakia before being picked third overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild. This made him the highest-drafted Slovak player in National Hockey League (NHL) history for a long time. He even scored the Wild's first-ever regular season goal!

Gáborík played for the Wild for eight seasons, becoming their top goal scorer. Later, he joined other NHL teams like the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, and Ottawa Senators. A big highlight of his career was winning the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2014.

He also played for the Slovak national team in two Olympic Games. He won a bronze medal at the 1999 World Junior Championships. Marián Gáborík officially retired from the NHL in November 2021.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting in Slovakia: Dukla Trenčín (1998–2000)

Marián Gáborík began his hockey journey with the junior team of HK Dukla Trenčín. In the 1997–98 season, he scored 59 points in 36 games. He even played one game with the men's team that season and scored a goal in his very first professional game!

The next season, in 1998–99, he joined Dukla Trenčín's main team full-time. He scored 20 points in 33 games as a rookie. In his draft year, 1999–2000, he improved even more, getting 46 points in 50 games.

Becoming a Star with the Minnesota Wild (2000–2009)

The Minnesota Wild picked Gáborík as their first-ever draft pick in 2000. He was the third player chosen overall. He quickly showed how good he was in his first season, scoring the team's first regular season goal. He finished that year with 18 goals and 36 points.

In his second season, 2001–02, he scored 30 goals for the first time and got 67 points. He also scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game) in November 2001. In 2002–03, Gáborík was chosen for his first NHL All-Star Game. He even won the fastest skater competition! He helped the Wild reach the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time, making it all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

Gáborík saluting the crowd after scoring five goals against the Rangers in 2007.

Sometimes, players have disagreements about their contracts. Gáborík had some contract issues in 2003, which kept him from starting the season right away. He eventually signed a new deal with the Wild.

On December 20, 2007, Gáborík had an amazing game against the New York Rangers. He scored five goals and added an assist, getting six points in total! He was the first Wild player to score five goals in a single game. That season, he set new personal bests with 42 goals, 41 assists, and 83 points.

Gáborík left the Wild in 2009 after eight seasons. He was the last original player from the team's first year. He held many team records for goals, assists, and points at that time.

Joining the New York Rangers (2009–2013)

On July 1, 2009, Gáborík signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent. He quickly started strong with his new team, scoring 10 goals in his first 12 games. Even though he had some injuries, he had a great first season with the Rangers. He matched his career high with 42 goals and set a new personal best with 86 points.

In his second season with the Rangers, 2010–11, injuries affected his play. However, he still had some big games, like scoring four goals and an assist in a 7–0 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Rangers made the playoffs that year.

In January 2012, Gáborík was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa. In May 2012, he scored a game-winning goal in triple-overtime against the Washington Capitals in the playoffs. This was one of the longest playoff games in Rangers history!

Gáborík playing for the Rangers in 2011.

Moving to Columbus and Los Angeles (2013–2018)

In April 2013, Gáborík was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He made an immediate impact, scoring the game-winning goal and an assist in his first game with them. However, he faced more injuries during his time with the Blue Jackets.

Gáborík with the Blue Jackets in 2013.

In March 2014, Gáborík was traded again, this time to the Los Angeles Kings. This trade turned out to be very successful! In the 2014 playoffs, he led all players with 14 goals. He helped the Kings win their second Stanley Cup in three years, defeating his former team, the New York Rangers, in the finals.

After winning the Stanley Cup, Gáborík signed a new contract to stay with the Kings. He played his 1,000th career NHL game in December 2017, scoring two points in a win against the Rangers.

Two months later, in February 2018, Gáborík was traded to the Ottawa Senators. He had surgery on his back in April 2018. The 2017–18 season was his last playing year, as he did not play in the following seasons due to injuries. In November 2021, he officially announced his retirement from the NHL.

Giving Back: Charity Work

Marián Gáborík has used his success to help develop ice hockey in Slovakia. In 2005, he opened his own ice rink called Arena Mariána Gáboríka in his hometown of Trenčín. He paid for it himself!

This ice rink helps local young people learn to skate and play ice hockey. It also has a fitness center for training and places for participants to stay overnight. The rink was even named "Construction of the Year" in Trenčín in 2005. Since 2009, Gáborík's rink has also offered a special hockey school program.

Gáborík is very involved in this project. He spends a lot of his personal time during the off-season at the rink. He attends the summer camp sessions to meet the young campers and take pictures with them. He also started the Marian Gaborik Foundation, which helps support youth hockey in Slovakia.

Awards and Honors

Marián Gáborík received several awards and honors during his career:

Images for kids

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  Gáborík during the 2010 Winter Olympics.