As per Pierre Lebrun the LA Kings have acquired Marian Gaborik from the Columbus Blue Jackets for Matt Frattin, a 2nd round pick and a conditional 3rd round pick. Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune originally said the trade had happened, but later backtracked on his statement saying it hadn’t officially been confirmed.
LA Kings have acquired Marian Gaborik _ still pending trade call however
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) March 5, 2014
Gaborik has been injured twice this season, with a knee injury and a broken collarbone slowing him down. The broken collarbone forced him to miss the Olympics, where he would have represented Slovakia. He has six goals and eight assists for 14 points this year.
Gaborik is in the last year of a 5-year deal he signed with the Rangers in the summer of 2009. The cap hit is $7.5 million. He was traded to the Blue Jackets at the trade deadline last year.
The 32-year-old Gaborik is a three-time 40 goal scorer, who was originally drafted by the Minnesota Wild, 3rd overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry draft. He has 342 goals, and 346 assists for 688 points in 791 games over his 13-year NHL career.
The Kings are a solid playoff team, and one of the best defensive teams in hockey, however they are 28th in the NHL in terms of goals scored. They are clearly hoping that the Slovakian speedster can add some offensive punch to their lineup for what should be some epic battles in the Western Conference in the NHL playoffs this season.
This isn’t the first time the Kings have acquired a scorer out of Columbus at the trade deadline. The acquisition of Jeff Carter in 2012 was a key trade that helped the team to their first Stanley Cup.
The 26-year-old Frattin was acquired by the Kings in the summer trade that saw Jonathan Bernier go to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 40 games this season he has two goals and four assists for six points.
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