• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorsManor.com

NHL blog, LA Kings hockey news and interviews from The Mayor

  • Radio Replay
  • Prospect Rankings
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / HockeyBlog / Thursday: Gaborik talks fitting into such a tight-knit team

Thursday: Gaborik talks fitting into such a tight-knit team

June 5, 2014 By MayorsManor Staff

Kings Ducks GaborikComments from Kings forward Marian Gaborik during Thursday’s media availability in Los Angeles…

Q. What was it like last night playing against some of your former teammates?

GABORIK: It was a little weird to start out with. But as soon as the puck dropped, it was playing like any other team.  Obviously it was a huge win for us. Wasn’t pretty one, but we’ll take it for sure.

Q. Do you ever shake your head wondering, How do we keep falling behind and have to keep coming back and being able to do it as often as you have?

GABORIK: Yeah, I don’t know, it’s not a perfect situation. We can’t always get away with this, losing 2-0 right from the get-go. We have to make sure we learn from it and just have to have a better start next game because it could have been 3-0 easily.  Quicky made some great saves. We were able to come back. We just have to play like we did in third period.

Q. As a relatively new member of the team, how would you describe what the Kings do well that has brought so much success for them?

GABORIK: Well, I think we have four centers that maybe on the other team would be top two centers. We roll four lines. We have great depth with great goaltending.  That’s a big part. I would say that would be it.

Q. You waited a long time to get to this point, to have this chance. Three wins away from a Stanley Cup, is it hard not to think about it?

GABORIK: It feels great to be in Finals. I was in league since 2000. It’s been a long time coming. I’m grateful to be in this position. Of course, last night was very important for us.  We know it’s not going to be easy down the road. We have to play a better game overall in terms to be able to beat this team.  I think we got away with one yesterday. We just have to be better in Game 2.

Q. Dean talked about when he made the trade, he had the opportunity to be able to talk to you, your desire to want to play. What made L.A. such a good fit for you?

GABORIK: I don’t know. When I got traded, I wanted to fit in in terms of on the ice and off the ice. This team has been together for couple years here. 90% of those guys won Cup two years ago.  When you’re coming to a team that has won and been contender past few years, you want to make sure you fit in, buy into the system, try and contribute. That was my focus.  Also off the ice it’s important to be part of the team, to have the team take you in, to feel a part of it. It feels great.

Q. Mike Richards took you around. The guys welcomed you immediately. Talk about that.

GABORIK: Yeah, I mean, I started on the road which was good, too, to get to know the guys a little bit better off the ice. We were in Canada for a week. It was great.  Yeah, him, Kopy, Willie, those guys really helped me out. You could tell that this team has a great locker room. Without that I don’t think they would be able to be a winning team.

Q. I think in the off-season back home you live with Chara and Hossa. If you touch the Cup or not, you were probably happy for them but at the same time wondering what that would be like.

GABORIK: I went to all of those parties. That maybe gives you that extra motivation to see those guys winning the Cup.  No, I didn’t touch it, by the way. I was very happy for them. That gives you that extra motivation, seeing guys living on the same street, to have them win it, give you extra jolt, extra motivation to be right with that group.

Q. What surprised you about the Rangers last night?

GABORIK: Well, I mean, nothing really surprised me because everybody knows, and I know, that they have a really balanced team, great goaltending. Their speed, you could see that. We just have to adjust to that, not give those guys that type of room to skate with.  Our special teams and power play have to be better. We have to watch out for those loose pucks. Speedy guys like Hagelin definitely took advantage of that last night. We have to do better stuff there. There are few things we have to clear up, as well.

MORE: Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar spend off-day talking about teammates

Filed Under: HockeyBlog, Interview, Kings, NHL, NHL Players, Rangers Tagged With: comments, hockey, interview, Kings, Los Angeles, Mayor, MayorsManor, NHL, quote, Rangers, Stanley Cup

About MayorsManor Staff

MayorsManor.com was founded by John Hoven and has been named Best Sports Blog in Los Angeles and national Hockey Blog of the Year. Hoven and the staff provide comprehensive LA Kings coverage, from prospects in the pipeline through the NHL.

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Who’s right, Jeff Carter or Kyle Clifford? says:
    June 5, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    […] MORE: Comments from Kings forward Marian Gaborik here. […]

Primary Sidebar

Kings Of The Podcast

Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. 132 – Mark Yannetti, 2022 NHL Draft Review

There’s no introduction or fancy setup needed on this one… Our guest is Mark Yannetti. Listen to this episode for free using the audio player below or check us out on all the major podcast platforms, including: Spotify, iHeart Radio, Apple Podcast, Tune In, Radio.com, and many more. Follow @mayorNHL Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping […]

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. 133 – Jack Hughes; Vin Scully, True-False
  • Round 2: LA Kings Reverse Retro 2.0 Jersey Mock-Ups
  • Kings Opening Night Roster Coming Together; Updates on Durzi and Anderson Contracts
  • NHL RADIO REPLAY: Mayor’s Minutes – LA Kings Summer Report Card, Grading Rob Blake
  • Mike Donnelly on Standouts at LA Kings Dev Camp and Other Impressions
  • LA Kings 2022 Dev Camp Notebook: Day 3 Notes and Scrimmage Highlights
  • LA Kings 2022 Dev Camp Notebook: Day 2 Notes and Quotes
  • REPORT: LA Kings to Hire Jim Hiller as Assistant Coach
  • LA Kings 2022 Dev Camp Notebook: Day 1 Scrimmage, Quotes, and Observations
  • NHL Rookie Faceoff: Schedule Released for September Tournament; Three Kings Games

Tweets by mayorNHL

Footer

Archives

Tags

AHL Blackhawks Brown camp Carter Clifford coach comments Doughty draft Ducks history hockey interview Kings Kopitar lineup Lombardi Los Angeles Manchester Mayor MayorsManor Monarchs Murray NHL Ontario Penner Playoffs Prospect Quick quote Radio Reign Richards roster Sharks Stanley Cup Stoll Sutter Toffoli trade video WCB West Coast Bias Williams

MayorsManor

  • About Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Store

© 2022 MayorsManor.com