Gaborik reads Wild starting lineup, drops puck before 25th anniversary game

The Minnesota Wild celebrated their 25^th anniversary by throwing it back to the beginning.

Marian Gaborik, the Wild’s first-ever draft pick, read the team’s starting lineups and performed the ceremonial puck drop during Minnesota’s 25^th anniversary celebration game at Grand Casino Arena on Tuesday.

Sporting the Wild’s anniversary jersey, Gaborik announced the starters in the locker room. He gave a brief pep talk after, telling the team not to mess it up.

After, the retired forward performed the ceremonial puck drop between Wild captain Jared Spurgeon and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk. Gaborik was also joined by former Wild greats Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Brian Rolston and Stephane Veilleux on the ice.

The Wild gave away Gaborik bobbleheads in honor of the night.

Gaborik was drafted by the Wild with the third overall pick in the 2000 NHL Draft. He played eight of his 17 NHL seasons with the team.

On Oct. 6, 2000, Gaborik scored the Wild’s first-ever goal during the team’s inaugural game against the Anaheim Ducks.