The question of whether the Sabres front office believes believes in Zemgus Girgensons seems to have been answered, at least for the time being.
The forward re-signed with the Sabres for 2 years with an AAV of $1.6 million Thursday afternoon. The question for the better part of two years was whether Zemgus would receive a one-year “prove it” deal, but that narrative has been put to bed with this extension.
It’s now clear that the “Latvian Locomotive” has a spot in the Sabres future plans. Girgensons now has the knowledge that the front office is confident in him, a mental advantage that can possibly help Girgensons improve his play.
Zemgus has had a hard time living up to his production in the 2014-15 season. The addition of top centers Jack Eichel and Ryan O’Reilly has certainly limited the 23 year old’s ability to produce at a high level, playing 3rd or sometimes 4th line minutes since their arrival.
Girgensons managed 16 points in 75 games in the 2016-17 campaign. In 277 career games he has amounted 37 goals and 49 assists for 86 points total. Zemgus now has possibly his best bottom six line mates as well to work with with the newly added Benoit Pouliot as well as potential day one starter Alex Nylander.
