Andrew Gross: Rangers’ Marian Gaborik a poor fit

This marriage is surely leading to divorce.

Maybe not by the April 3 trade deadline, though there are plenty of whispers the Rangers are gauging the market’s interest in Marian Gaborik. Maybe not until this off-season. Or maybe not until the inconsistent scorer’s five-year, $37.5 million contract expires following the 2013-14 season, since a new deal seems implausible.

Regardless of the eventual departure date, there certainly seems to be a growing disconnect between Gaborik and coach John Tortorella.

The Rangers face the Jets tonight as they continue a season-high, four-game road trip coming off a bewilderingly flaccid 3-1 loss at Buffalo on Tuesday. And there was no greater sign of Tortorella’s disgust in Gaborik’s play than dropping him to the third line to start the third period while putting enforcer Micheal Haley in his place.

“He’s the coach and makes decisions,” Gaborik said. “The lines tend to change all the time. So we have to be better. The guys that have to step up, have to step up. It’s got to be night in and night out.

“I’m not going to talk about that,” Gaborik continued when asked if he considered the glaring line switch a demotion. “Like I said, it’s his decision and I have to play better. I want to be out in every situation.”

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