Below is an excerpt from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune/Pioneer Press article by John Shipley who spoke to Marian Gaborik’s agent, Ron Salcer who is defending his star client from “character assassination” by the media.

Convinced his client has been the victim of a “character assassination,” Marian Gaborik’s agent, Ron Salcer, on Wednesday denied a handful of contract numbers that have surfaced recently in newspapers and blogs.

Salcer specifically denied a New York Post report that Gaborik is asking the Wild for a 10-year, $100 million deal and said he has not received offers of $85 million over 10 years, $90 million over 10 years or $70 million over 10 years.

“When and if they do get offered,” he said, “maybe something will happen.”

The Pioneer Press has been reporting the Wild have offered Gaborik more than $80 million over 10 years, a number Salcer declined to address.