The trade deadline for the 2013-14 season isn't until March 5, so there is still plenty of time for Columbus to climb out of the basement in the Metropolitan division. But if the Jackets fail to turn things around, you can expect to hear Marian Gaborik's name on the trade block, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:
Barring a dramatic change, I see no chance #CBJ even attempt to re-sign Marian Gaborik, will look to move him at trade deadline or sooner.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) November 14, 2013
The Blue Jackets acquired Marian Gaborik right before the trade deadline last season to help bolster their offense. It was an exciting to see the Jackets as buyers instead of sellers in the trade market.
Columbus is off to a slow start this season and Gaborik has struggled to live up to his offensive expectations. He is in the fifth and final year of his contract -- earning $7.5 million -- which might be enough for the Jackets to seek a willing trade partner, according to Brian Stubits of CBSSports.com.
Right now Gaborik is in the final season of a five-year deal that carries a cap hit of $7.5 million. He will also turn 32 before this season is up, likely signalling his best days are behind him. However that doesn't mean he's done, it's just right now in Columbus it isn't working out as well as everybody hoped. He still has five goals and 11 points in 16 games; not great but not terrible by any stretch. However given his age and cost as well as the current direction of the franchise, he doesn't seem to fit in for the long haul.
The difficult part is that the Jackets gave up some quality players (John Moore, Derek Dorsett, Derick Brassard) to the Rangers to get Gaborik and now they might turn around and deal him away a year later with a presumably diminished trade value. It would sting to have to give up on Gaborik so quickly but again, the salary demand is tough for a team that's near the bottom of the East this season.
Here's hoping the Jackets will find the spark they've been looking for and turn this season around.
