In town, but for how long?

The Minnesota Wild are holding some early training camps, getting prospects and young players up to speed before the season begins. A surprise guest at the camps was none other than the Wild's 7.5 million dollar man, Marian Gaborik.

This could be a very good sign, especially as Gabby's getting back into condition following his off-season hip surgery, repairing something that he said plagued him during his 83 point season last year. It also could be an indication that the contract negotiations between Gaborik and the Wild are moving in a positive direction.

But there is a dark lining. Gaborik is being non-committal at this point, simply saying that negotiations are progressing, that he's got one season left on his contract, and indicating that he knows he'll be highly sought after should he become an unrestricted free agent after this upcoming season. Could those lures be too big for this large fish in an admittedly small pond? Only time will tell, and Gabby appears to be focused on the game on ice, preferring to let his agent and Wild management handle the game on paper.

All we can really know is that, if the Wild are forced to let Gaborik go by failing to sign him to an extension, the team's faithful may start pounding down the doors of the Xcel, looking for management's heads on pikes.