If you haven’t guessed yet, The Glass man is Marian Gaborik of the Minnesota Wild.

Why is his nickname “The Glass Man”, you ask? Compare glass to Marian Gaborik, very delicate and easily breakable. Do you see the similarities?

Since the 2003-2004 season Marian Gaborik has played 65 games twice, 77 games once, 48 games once and now this season, with only a month of hockey, Marian Gaborik has only played 2 games. He always seems to be injured, but manages to put up some big statistics while playing in only a few games.

The real question the Wild have to ask themselves,” Is Marian Gaborik really worth $10 million a year for 10 years.” The Minnesota Wild have already offered $80 million over 10 years. At $8 million a season Marian Gaborik will one of the highest paid players in the NHL. This offer is still on the table the Wild are just waiting for Marian to decide.

So far the rumors swirling around have the Montreal Canadiens as the front runners to trade and sign for Marian Gaborik. The Habs are offering winger Higgins, backup goalie Jaroslav Halak and either a first-round draft pick or top prospect Ryan McDonagh.

Other rumors have Marian Gaborik going to the Penguins for Evgeni Malkin.  We say, “No chance!!”! Last but not least the Edmonton Oilers seem to be showing some interest.

We will just have to wait and see if Marian Gaborik is really worth that magnitude of money. Whatever franchise decides to dig deep into their pockets and pay him, we recommend they take out a hefty insurance plan to cover their investment.

Semin was interviewed by yahoo.com, this is what he had to say about “Sid The Kid”

“What’s so special about Sidney Crosby? I don’t see anything special there,” Semin, who leads the NHL with 16 points. Yes, he does skate well, has a good head, good pass. But there’s nothing else. Even if you compare him to Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks … (Kane) is a much more interesting player. The way he moves, his deaking abilities, his thinking on the ice and his anticipation of the play is so superb.”

Sidney Crosby, left Thursdays game against the Phoenix Coyotes after feeling some sort of discomfort. Crosby is off to a decent start early in the season, with 13 points in 11 games.

“Honestly, I don’t even know what happened; I’d have to look at the tape,” Crosby told Pittsburgh reporters following the game. “I just had some discomfort. I just decided in the third period I couldn’t do much, so…”

For all you fantasy hockey owners out there don’t worry Sidney will be back and will get your team 100 point this year guaranteed. That’s “What’s So Special About Sidney Crosby?“

If Marian can stay healthy this kid is a monster, last year he recorded 42 goals, 41 assists in 77 games. If the Habs can find a way to pick him up this would be huge for them and there Stanley Cup run. With a power play that is tops in the league, imagine adding Marian Gaborik to the mix…….Unstoppable.

Other reports coming out of Minnesota, indicate the Penguins are interested, but Minny is asking for Evgeni “Geno” Malkin straight up, the Oilers who are also interested in the Star forward. But Marian Gaborik wants out of Minny, do you actually think he will last long in Edmonton?

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Got a call this morning from a frantic Montreal sports radio station.

“Chris Higgins is not skating,” the voice said. “He’s not in the building. What are you hearing on your end?”

Oh, boy. Here we go …

The Marian Gaborik story has gone international, and what was briefly the Twin Cities’ own little hockey drama has quickly jumped the shark. What had moved incrementally via reporting and sourcing has been pushed into hyper drive by rumor, innuendo and speculation.

So get ready, Wild fans, it’s full-tilt-boogie on the Gabby rumors until this thing is resolved.

Rumors have been out there, but mostly crazy ones, such as Gaborik straight up for Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin (Wild: “Uh, where do I sign?”) or Gaborik to Edmonton (he doesn’t want to be here, you think he wants to be in Edmonton?).

But the rumor the Montreal press was sinking its teeth into Monday isn’t so patently insane: Gaborik to Montreal for winger Higgins, backup goalie Jaroslav Halak and either a first-round draft pick or top prospect Ryan McDonagh (yes, that Ryan McDonagh).

Like all rumors, this one is not substantiated by a named source. That doesn’t mean it’s not true, but it does mean one should approach it with caution. For one thing, the numbers don’t add up: If the deal were done as is, Montreal would be about $3.86 million over the cap. And acquiring a backup goaltender doesn’t make much sense for the Wild.

Read The Rest Of The Article: TwinCities.com

With the upcoming NHL season under 24 hours away, our team of experts at TPS have come together and made their 2008-09 NHL Predictions.  The predictions consist of who they think will come first in each Division, win their Conference and lift the greatest trophy in sports ”The Stanley Cup”.

Lets take a look at who our experts at Total Pro Sports have selected to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup in the 2008-09 NHL Predictions!

Expert	Atlantic	N’East	S’East	Central	N’West	Pacific	East	West	Cup
AnthonyP
RobG
Chico
CoreyS
DanD
Jamie
Ozel
RonCanada

If you don’t have a chance to select the top 8 players in the NHL, don’t worry because if you plan out your team ahead of time then you will do fine.  When I’m in a fantasy hockey draft I love having the middle of the pack pick because you never have to wait to long to make your next selection.

Lets take a look at my top 5 2008-2009 fantasy hockey Forwards for your fantasy hockey team in the upcoming Hockey season.

1.  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins- One of the top players in the World right now, let alone the NHL.  If you have the first pick in your fantasy hockey draft you better take “Sid the Kid” enough said.  There should no questions on who or why?  This should be the first selection made in the fantasy hockey draft or in any draft let alone the one your in.  24 goals, 48 assists for 72 points in 53 games need I say more?  An average of 1.4 points per game, if he stays healthy this year and plays all 82 games that’s 112 points.  Expect the same point per game average again this year,  Malkin and Crosby to unstoppables.  Crosby for 200 points this year? You never know what can happens.  Trust me he wont let you down.

2.  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals-  Alex, Alex, Alex wow what a talented hockey player.  This kid is just fearless on the ice.  He skates a million miles an hour, he never stops, he puts up ridiculous amounts of points and hell take the body with anyone in the corner.  Alex “OV” Ovechkin lead the NHL last year with 67 goals, 45 assists and 112 points.  You can bet that Alex will again improve on his overall numbers again this year, and he has yet to hit is prime, Scary!!!! Pick him quick because you won’t find him available at past #2 in your fantasy hockey draft. 

3.  Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins-  When Sidney Crosby went down with an injury last year, nobody expected Evgeni Malkin aka “Geno Malkin” to put the team on his back and lead them through the season and to the Stanley Cup finals.  This young gun came into form last year as all scouts expected him to, compiling 47 goals, 59 assists for 106 points and playing all 82 games.  We have to admit he did not perform during the playoffs as he did during the regular season.  But that’s ok, well pretend that never happened.  Last season stats with out Sidney Crosby for half the year, says enough.  This is why he should be #3 on you list of top fantasy hockey forwards.

4.  Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames-  Iginla is the straw that stirs the drink for the Calgary Flames who continue to build the franchise around him.  Last year he had 50 goals, 48 assists for 98 points.  Expect him to have a repeat year and improve on those number 50 and 100 is more like it for “Iggy Pop”.  Iginla played all 82 games last year for the Flames.  With the new additions to the team that include Mike Cammaleri and Todd Bertuzzi you can be sure that his power play numbers will increase.  Expect large things from Iginla, he will produce for you fantasy hockey team.  Make sure you select him with one of the first 7 picks in the first round of your hockey draft.

5.  Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings – After winning the Stanley Cup last year and having one of his best seasons as an Pro.  When the wings need goals, they put Datsyuk on the ice.  When they need to prevent goals they put Datsyuk on the ice.  You get the picture.  He totaled 31 goals, 66 assists and 97 points in 82 games.  Datsyuk will look to have a repeat year for the unstoppable Red Wings.  With the addition of Marian Hossa, you can be sure that the Red Wings power play will be one of the best in the league.  Look for Datsyuk and Hossa to work well together on the power play and rack up on those “PP” points.  Expect more fireworks, draft Pavel Datsyuk early in the first round.

Honorable Mention:  Danny Heatley, Joe Thornton, Olli Jokinen, Vincent Lecavalier, Henrik Zetterberg, Marian Hossa.

Sleepers:  Kyle Turris, Bobby Ryan, Mikkel Boedker, Mikko Koivu.

3.  Pittsburgh Penguins Season Preview

Big drop off here for the Penguins. They have some tough injuries to deal with right now and I think it’ll end up hurting them more than people will think.

The Pens forwards are lead by arguably the best duo in the league with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Petr Sykora, Pascal Dupuis, Miroslav Satan and Tyler Kennedy will look to help out that duo with some secondary scoring. Jordan Staal will look to have a rebound season and Matt Cooke will be a pest and also chip in a goal here and there.

Defence is easily the weakest part of this team. Having Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar out to start the season really hurts. Two young guys in Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski are now the go-to guys on the point for the PP. Brooks Orpik, Hal Gill, Mark Eaton, Darryl Sydor and Rob Scuderi will look to keep things simple and play solid in their own end.

In net Pittsburgh has one of the best young goalies in the league with Marc-Andre Fleury and an underrated backup in Dany Sabourin.

With Malone and Hossa gone their forwards aren’t as good and injuries have weakened their defence. The only way I see them finishing higher than 3rd in the division is if Fleury completely stands on his head.

Lets take a look at where these teams will finish this year in my 2008-09 NHL Atlantic Divison Standings Preview

2008-09 NHL Atlantic Divison Standings Preview

Rank	Team	Rec	PRV	Name/Previews
1		42-29-11	3	Philadelphia Flyers
2		42-27-13	1	New York Rangers
3		47-27-8	2	Pittsburgh Penguins
4		46-29-7	2	New Jersey Devils
5		35-38-9	-	New York Islanders