INSIDE HOCKEY

NEW YORK – Marian Gaborik’s mind and skill level are certainly worthy of the five-year $37.5 million deal the Rangers bestowed on him Wednesday as free agency opened. Whether or not his body is worthy of the huge contract is yet to be determined.

The problem with Marian Gaborik – the reason more teams weren’t as interested as the Rangers were – is because “Gabby” has had enormous trouble staying off the injured list. In fact, in his last four seasons, he’s played more than 65 games just once, in 2007-08. Last season, he played in only 17 contests after having hip surgery in January.

“I feel great. I played the last 11 games of the year [last year]. I took time off after and tried to get to 100 percent,” Gaborik said during a mid-afternoon conference call on Thursday. “Now, I'm in full training, getting ready for the season. I'm very excited. I don't see any problems down the road. I'm just getting ready for the season."

Rangers General Manager Glen Sather told reporters Wednesday night that the team did its due diligence and believes Gaborik’s injury history is behind him. The problem is, there’s seemingly little basis for that argument.

While his skill is unquestioned, Gaborik has never played in all 82 games of a season, and has missed 121 games over the last four years, playing in 65, 48, 77, and 17 respectively.

“Definitely, it's been very tough. I guess it just makes me stronger,” Gaborik said from his native Slovakia. “The toughest part is seeing your teammates out there, battling hard, winning games and you can't help. It's tough times. I'm glad I chose to have surgery last year, it worked out perfectly. Hopefully, everything is behind me and I can focus on playing hockey."

“The first game he played against us, he was dangerous any time he was on the ice,” Sather said Wednesday night. “We looked at medical reports, he’s very healthy. Mario Lemieux and Michal Rozsival had the same surgery. We don’t expect any problems.”

Gaborik, 27, said the Rangers were the most interested team, and even sent a scout with a video infomercial to Gaborik’s home.

“I watched it. It was unbelievable. It was really very important they came after me this way,” Gaborik said. “There were a few other teams interested. But with the Rangers, it was every aspect, whether it was the terms or pretty much everything, when somebody is very interested in you, it feels great.”

Gaborik, when healthy, was a consistent point-per-game player for the Wild over the last four years under defensive-minded coach Jacques Lemaire. In fact, Sather called the right winger one of the top 10 forwards in the league and thinks Gaborik can flourish under John Tortorella, the offensively-oriented coach on Broadway.

“Obviously, he won a Stanley Cup in Tampa,” Gaborik said of Tortorella. “I think he did very well for the Rangers (last year). Coming to the Rangers, they weren't doing that great and they made the playoffs. I'm looking forward to this and I'm sure we'll have a great time.”

They will have a great time. If Gaborik can stay off the injured list.

NOTE: The Rangers also signed enforcer Donald Brashear on Wednesday, and signed minor-leaguer Chris Chappell on Thursday.