Here’s what forward Marian Gaborik said Wednesday of agreeing to a new seven-year contract with the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings: “Hopefully, we can just keep this train rolling, … I knew I could get maybe more money if I had gone to free agency, but it wasn’t about money. I wanted to be part of a great team. … That was my No. 1 priority, to get a deal done here.”

The defending Stanley Cup champion Kings and veteran forward Marian Gaborik agreed Wednesday on a new seven-season contract that will pay him an average of $4.9 million and further cement a championship roster for years to come. Gaborik, Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty, MIke Richards, Jonathan Quick and Slava Voynov are all signed through 2019.

Marian Gaborik played for the Rangers for three-plus seasons and scored 114 goals in 255 games before he was traded during the 2012-13 season to Columbus. The Kings then acquired him this past March 5 from the Blue Jackets.

Gaborik makes his first visit Monday night to Madison Square Garden since the trade, and it was clear Sunday that he was looking forward to it. Above all, he couldn’t wait to hear the roar of the crowd and to get a close-up look at the extensive renovations of the “World’s Most Famous Arena.”

“I don’t think I’ve met or talked to any player who didn’t like playing in the Garden,” said Gaborik, who has a playoff-leading 13 goals in 23 games. “You have extra jump. Everybody has an energy. You want to go out there and play well.”

Gaborik then went on to sidestep specific questions about whether he might have been a better fit in the system employed by current Rangers coach Alain Vigneault rather than the one used by former coach John Tortorella.

“I haven’t thought about it,” Gaborik said. “I don’t think about the past.”

Clearly, however, he has thought of his return to the Garden to face the Rangers.

“I’m grateful to be in my first Final,” he said. “To play the Rangers makes it more special.”

Turns out the Slovakian Marians are good friends from childhood, with Marian Hossa and Marian Gaborik living on the same street in their hometown of Trencin during the offseason. Gaborik played as a kid with Hossa’s younger brother, Marcel. Here’s what Hossa said about Gaborik on Monday:

“He is and always was a pure sniper. You give him a little time and he can release it really quick and surprise you. He has an unbelievable shot. And his speed, when he gets going, you must know where he is.

“Especially in the middle zone, he can use his speed extremely well. In one second, he’s behind you and you won’t catch him. You want to make sure you know where he is all the time. … We’ve known each other since when we were really young. My brother (Marcel) was friends with Marian.

“I watched their games. They were three years younger. Marian scored goals, my brother was the passer. We’re neighbors. We live on the same street. We try to do our business on the ice and when everything is over, we’ll go back to our friendship.”