Injuries won’t stop Gaborik

Marian Gaborik, the Rangers’ big free-agent score of 2009, brings to New York speed, scoring expertise and a bag of questions about his durability. His first duty on his first full day as a Blueshirt was to try to reassure everyone that his fragile days are behind him.

“I feel great,” Gaborik said on a conference call from his home in Slovakia, a day after signing a five-year contract worth $37.5 million. “I played the last 11 games of the year and I took time off after and tried to get to 100%. Now, I’m in full training, getting ready for the season. I’m very excited. I don’t see any problems down the road.”

It’s the problems in his rearview mirror that have some fans concerned about the signing. Gaborik – whose deal includes a limited no-movement clause – missed all but 17 games last year with groin, back and hip injuries, the last of which drove him to the operating table in January. He has played more than 65 games only once in the past five seasons. “I’m glad I had the surgery, it worked out perfectly,” Gaborik said.

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