Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill has re-signed center Zemgus Girgensons to a two-year contract with a $1.6M AAV. Botterill did nice work here by locking up a good foot soldier for two seasons and $3.2 million total.
Girgensons earned $1,150,000 last season on a "show me" one year deal that he signed days before the beginning of training camp in mid-September.
Girgensons was Buffalo's final restricted free agent ti be re-signed this summer.
Girgensons, 23, is entering his fifth season with the Sabres. Girgensons was selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.
Last season, the "Latvian Locomotive" landed 120 hits (4th highest hits total on team), registered 112 shots on goal and blocked 26 shots. He averaged 13:09 TOI and was a 47.2% faceoff man.
Botterill now has $6.9 million in available salary cap space remaining.
Atbhia introductory presser, new Sabres head coach spoke glowingly about Girgensons and his gritty, two-way style of play. Housley praised the way that Girgensons performed for Team Latvia against Team USA at recent IIHF World Championships tournaments.
Right now, Girgensons projects as Buffalo's third line center. He's a ferocious fore checker who skates very well for a 6'1" and 200 lbs. man. Girgensons has the hand-eye skills to score 20 goals in the NHL. He must buckle down and bury his many scoring chances that he warns inside games. Girgensons scored 7 goals in 75 games last season. Girgensons has told me a few times in the past couple of seasons that he feels confident that he can deliver more goals and assists to the Sabres offense.
In his first four NHL seasons, Girgensons has accumulated 37 goals and 49 assists in 277 games.
The forward, who has appeared in at least 61 games in each of his four NHL seasons, set a new career high with 75 games played in 2016-17 after signing a one-year extension in September 2016.
Botterill has locked up his restricted free agents.
Nowhat his desk is cleared off, it is the perfect time for him to finally announce the the new mega contract extension for his superstar Jack Eichel.
Eichel's deal is expected to come in at $10 million average annual value.
Eichel's agent Botterill have been working out the final details on Eichel's spankin' new contract.
8-years, $80 million is how I see it.
**
On Thursday, Mike Chambers of the Denver Post caught up with Colorado Avalanche Gam Joe Sakic.
Is Nikita Zadorov about to re-sign or follow his bro Mikhail Grigorenko to the KHL?
“Both sides agreed to a two-year deal and we just have to figure out the numbers,” Sakic said. “We’ve got our NHL comps that we’re going with and he’s got to make a decision at some point on what he wants to do.”
“You’re not playing against NHL players, so I don’t know the allure for a guy who’s playing in the NHL,” Sakic said. “You’re not playing against the best. It would be a different tournament.”
***
Is Matt Duchene going to be traded?
“I will be listening to offers. Right now it’s quiet on all fronts,” Sakic said. “But I’ll listen to offers on how we can get better. I’ll never name names but I’ll sit there and if something makes sense for the way we want to go, with our team, we’ll really look at that.”
**
How about Will Butcher, Joe?
Butcher refused to sign a pro contract with Sakic and is now a hotly pursued free agent.
“ (Butcher) has got that right….He’ll see what’s out there for him and see where that goes.”
**
The New Jersey Devils have suffered a huge loss to their forward ranks.
Devils VP and GM Ray Shero announced center Travis Zajac will be lost to injury long term.
"This morning, Travis Zajac underwent successful surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle that was suffered last week during off-season training. The procedure was performed by the club's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jonathan L. Glashow. Zajac's expected recovery time is approximately four to six months."
Join the Discussion:
»