Player Profile: Marian Gaborik

Hockey coaches are asked to compare players all the time. Who does this player remind you of? Who does that player play like?

Common questions that typically elicit ordinary answers.

Wild coach Jacques Lemaire was asked such a question the other night. "Hey Jacques," a voice in the back of the room said, "who would you compare [Wild forward] Marian Gaborik to?"

Lemaire looked to the ceiling as he thought about it. Everyone waited for Lemaire to blurt out the name of some current or past star he had seen during his 30-plus years in the NHL.

But Lemaire didn't name a hockey player. In fact, he didn't even name a human being.

"To me, he's like a horse," Lemaire said.

So is Lemaire comparing his second-year forward to Secretariat?

"I just mean that he's not a smooth skater who glides on the ice like, say, Jaromir Jagr," Lemaire said. "He's got moves, he's always back and forth, kind of herky-jerky. Always shaking back and forth, trying to go around someone. To me, he's like a young horse."

The Wild's young horse has broken free so far this season. His career-high three-point game against Edmonton on Tuesday gave him a team-leading eight points on the season. He entered play Thursday tied for the league lead in power-play points (five). And he didn't even play the first game of the season.

"I'm starting to feel good out there," said Gaborik, who missed most of training camp and the opener recovering from hernia surgery in the offseason. "I feel like I'm getting stronger every game."

The physical part of Gaborik's game is coming along. The mental part already seems to be there. Gaborik was considered mature for his 18 years during his rookie season in 2000-01. Already, though, teammates have noticed a difference in Gaborik's approach before games, during games, during practices, on the road, everywhere.

"He's grown so much even from last year," said Jim Dowd, who plays center on Gaborik's line. "He's so smart on the ice. You look at him and see already that he's a great player, and he's only getting better. I can see a difference."

Gaborik's other linemate, Andrew Brunette said: "I wasn't here last year, so I don't know if there's a difference. But I'll tell you this: I haven't come across many 19-year-olds who are as mature and confident out there as him. The kid is something else."

Gaborik doesn't feel any real change other than being a little more familiar with the NHL.

"I'm just working hard, that's all," Gaborik said.

He would never admit that perhaps he was a bit selfish last season, perhaps a bit concerned about personal scoring streaks and such. Of course, he wanted the team to do well, but he often sulked when he didn't score or feel he contributed.

This season, though, questions to Gaborik about Gaborik are answered differently. He is more inclined to talk about the team, not himself.

"He's always been a team guy, but you can really notice now his commitment to the team game," Dowd said. "His concern is like everyone else's -- he wants the team to do well."

The team is doing well, mostly because of the line of Gaborik, Dowd and Brunette. The line has combined for six goals and 13 assists. That's 19 points, or 40 percent of the Wild's combined points.

"I think Brunette has made a huge difference," Lemaire said. "He's very creative with the puck and Marian is a guy who gets away from people and gets into open spaces. You want a guy who sees the ice very well who can get [Gaborik] the puck when he gets open. And [Brunette] can do that."

Perhaps one day, Lemaire will think of a player to compare to Gaborik. Maybe some All-Star or Hall of Famer. Until then, Gaborik is just a horse.

"I don't know," Lemaire said laughing about his horse comparison. "I just know that when he's skating out there and making moves and is 100 percent, you can see that he is going to be a great player."

-- Tom Jones is at [email protected].