Lemaire wants Gaborik to dig down a bit deeper

Some day the Wild will have a representative in the NHL All-Star Game.

Until then, they will have to settle for Marian Gaborik being invited to play in the YoungStars game, which will be held Feb. 1.

Gaborik was the club's strongest prospect to play in Feb. 2's All-Star Game in Los Angeles. When the All-Star reserves were named, Gaborik had 41 points and was in the league's top 20 in scoring.

That made him a candidate for the World Team, but the 19-year-old right winger was a long shot.

While he's showing all the promise the Wild hoped he would after they made him the franchise's first entry draft pick in June of 2000, he's still in the development stages.

The club believes it's too early for Gaborik to be considered amongst the game's elite, but the potential is there.

For now, he's just happy to be chosen to play in a game featuring future stars under age 25. Gaborik, the third overall pick in 2000, has met many of other players in the game.

He's familiar with Atlanta's Dany Heatley, Columbus' Rostislav Klesla and Nashville's Scott Hartnell. All of the players were selected in the top six picks in 2000.

Part of the process in becoming a great player is overcoming the adversity a long NHL season can bring. Gaborik broke a seven-game goal drought last Friday in Columbus. His third-period goal gave the Wild some insurance in a 3-1 victory.

After the game, Gaborik said he was relieved to see one of his shots find the back of the net. But while he was going through the snake-bit stretch, he did have four assists.

More importantly, he's becoming more responsible in his own end of the rink. Gaborik's speed isn't just for offense. There have been several occasions where he's raced back to break up potential odd-man rushes.

Heading into this week, Gaborik was minus-3 on a team that has been outscored 96-67 at even strength.

It's a sign that Gaborik is coachable and that he is buying into the way coach Jacques Lemaire is teaching him the game.