The Los Angeles Kings are reporting today that right winger Marian Gaborik has been injured at the World Cup and will likely miss up to 8 weeks of action.
Gaborik injured his leg or foot during Team Europe’s thrilling overtime victory versus Sweden on Sunday. Team Europe General Manager Miroslav Satan noted that Gaborik took a puck to the foot. Per Sportsnet’s Matt Brown, he left the Air Canada Centre today with a cast on his foot and was using crutches.
Team Europe already had the underdog title heading into the World Cup Finals, now they’ll be without one of their premier forwards which will make beating Canada even more difficult. Gaborik managed two goals in the previous World Cup games.
Unfortunately, I think it would be more surprising if Gaborik walked away from this tournament uninjured. Last season Gaborik only managed to play 54 games, and the season before that he played 69. The only time Gaborik has skated an entire 82 game season was in 2011-12 with the New York Rangers.
If the eight-week timetable is correct, Kings fans can expect Gaborik to be back and suiting up again toward the end of November. Despite the setback, Gaborik will be counted to produce offensively from the get-go.
Marian Gaborik just left the ACC on crutches and his right foot was in a cast.#WCOH2016
— Matt Brown (he/him) (@brown__matt) September 26, 2016
