By David Salazar, d.salazar@latinospost.com (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Mar 18, 2013 08:57 AM EDT
Tags NHL

A year ago, the New York Rangers were the top team in the Eastern Conference and were considered top contenders for the Stanley Cup. This season, the Rangers are three points out of a playoff spot and look mediocre at best. The team is a likely buyer at the trade deadline, but there are also indications that the team may be willing to part with one of its key stars.

According to SB Nation, the team is considering moving forward Marian Gaborik. According to CBC's Elliotte Friedman, "Gaborik has a list of 10 teams he cannot be traded to." The publication notes that the Rangers and Vancouver Canucks were in talks, but they ultimately went nowhere.

Gaborik has been the centerpiece of the Rangers' offense since his acquisition in 2009-10. When none of the team's centers clicked with the winger, general manager Glen Sather signed Brad Richards at a high price to have a top line pivot for Gaborik. While the Slovakian flourished last season with 41 goals and 76 points, his totals have come down significantly in 2012-13. In 27 games he has only eight goals and is one pace for 14 goals this season. He has been maddeningly inconsistent and has not scored a goal in the last five games; in fact, he has one goal in the last fourteen games. He scored his five of his goals in the first five games of the season.

The Rangers are currently up against the cap and have $64 million in salary going into next season; they have eight players they need to resign including franchise cornerstones Ryan McDonaugh, Derek Stephan, and Cark Hagelin. Gaborik's $7.5 million cap hit is massive for an unproductive winger.

Additionally, the addition of Rick Nash may have shifted the focus away from Gaborik as well. At just 28 years of age, Nash is in the midst of his prime and leads the team in scoring with 23 points. He has been a major catalyst for the team's best play during the year and he is signed until 2017-18 at a cap hit of $7.8 million. Nash's presence and Gaborik's inconsistent play makes the latter star dispensable.

Despite the erratic numbers, Gaborik is only 31 years old and still in his prime. Many teams could think that a change of scenery might benefit the sniper and this might make him attractive.  

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