Gaborik, Wild Still at Impasse

All-Star holdout Marian Gaborik returned to Minnesota from Slovakia this month, hoping for a deal that would get him back with the Wild. Now he’s leaving again.

Two long meetings with management did nothing to resolve the impasse, Gaborik said Monday in a statement through his agent.

“I am very disappointed with these developments, especially after last season’s successful playoff run,” he said.

The statement didn’t say if Gaborik was returning to Slovakia.

Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough said he hadn’t seen the statement and would not comment.

Gaborik, 21, became a restricted free agent after leading the team with 30 goals in 2002-03, his third season.

Two days before training camp, Gaborik turned down a three-year deal from Minnesota worth $9.5 million.

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The St. Louis Blues acquired left wing Erkki Rajamaki from the Tampa Bay Lightning for an eighth-round selection in the 2004 draft.

Rajamaki has spent the last two seasons in the Finnish League, with 16 goals, 10 assists and 175 penalty minutes. He will continue to play for HPK of the Finnish League, the Blues said.

Rajamaki was chosen by Tampa Bay in the eighth round of the 1999 draft.