Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Prediction: Trade him before the deadline.
There have been rumors all around the CBJ and NHL news outlets about a possible trade of Marian Gaborik. I feel that this is a real possibility. As you have probably heard, the Blue Jackets have an identity as a young, up-and-coming team, and Gaborik just doesn’t fit in. It wouldn’t make sense to sign him, because given his age and experience he would likely demand a long contract, and signing him to five years just won’t work for the Jackets. Given how much they traded to NYR to get him, I doubt the team would be happy with simply letting his contract expire to let some other team grab him. Most likely they will try to see what they can get for him, and probably make a trade pretty soon.