The Buffalo Sabres announced today that they have re-signed center Zemgus Girgensons on a two year deal. Zemgus Girgensons’ new contract is worth $3.2 million. It carries a $1.6 million dollar annual cap hit.
Girgensons was drafted 14th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft by the Sabres. Girgensons has 86 career points (37 goals and 49 assists) in 277 career games played in the NHL. He joined the Sabres AHL affiliate the Rochester Americans right after he was drafted. Girgensons played 61 games for them in the 2012-13 season, tallying 17 points (6 goals and 11 assists).
The Sabres have signed Zemgus Girgensons to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.6 million. https://t.co/65PWU3KaL5
— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) August 17, 2017
Zemgus Girgensons re-signs with Sabres
He made the jump to the NHL the following season in 2013-14. Girgensons played 70 games for the Buffalo Sabres putting up 8 goals and 14 assists with a point total of 22. In the 2014-15 season Girgensons had his best season yet. He played 61 games for the Sabres, racking up 15 goals and 15 assists for a combined 30 point season. He slowed down in the 2015-16 season with only 18 points in 71 games played.
In the 2016-17 season, Girgensons put up seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 75 games played. Another mediocre season for him in his fourth year on North American ice.
Girgensons new contract is low risk
With his production numbers lowering year after year, you could question where he could find himself in the Sabres organization and depth chart. Although his numbers have dwindled throughout his previous seasons, Girgensons has shown he can a decent third line center for most of the time. If his numbers improve drastically in the 2017-18 NHL season, the Sabres have another year of his services before he’s up. When his two years are up, the Sabres will alos have to evaluate if he’s the player they hoped for when they drafted him, and if he’s worth keeping around.
Main Photo: ANAHEIM, CA – FEBRUARY 24: Zemgus Girgensons #28 of the Buffalo Sabres skates to the puck during the second period of a game agains the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on February 24, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
