The Buffalo Sabres announced Tuesday afternoon that they have re-signed forward Zemgus Girgensons to a one-year contract worth $2.5 million.
Girgensons registered 18 points, including 10 goals, in 80 games this past season. Having been drafted by the team in 2012, he is now the longest-tenured player on the Sabres roster. The 29-year-old has appeared in 625 NHL games, all with Buffalo, and accrued 174 points (81-93) in his career to date.
The defensive forward’s previous contract was a three-year deal with an AAV of $2.2 million.
What are your thoughts on Girgensons re-signing? Are you surprised? How do you feel about the length and price tag?
Personally: it is perhaps a bit surprising, if only because the Sabres have so much forward depth right now that it’s going to be a battle come fall. However, it’s become clear over the years how much of a ‘locker room’ guy Girgensons is and how he plays a piece in the culture of the team – and we all know how big Kevyn Adams is on the culture & on players who want to be here.
With that said, the more interesting consideration moving forward will be how the Sabres piece together the rest of their roster. Will they trade Victor Olofsson? Will pending RFA Tyson Jost be re-signed? Where does Jiri Kulich fit into it all?