The deadline for NHL RFAs to accept their qualifying offers was 5pm EDT Friday July 15.
Buffalo Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons was qualified by his GM Tim Murray on June 27.
Girgensons opted to not accepted his one year qualifying offer.
Why?
I'm guessing the Latvian Locomotive is looking fora two or three year bridge deal rather than accept a one-off contract the way the Sabres RFAs Marcus Foligno, Jason Kasdorf and Dan Catenacci have in the past four days.
Over the weekend, I reached out to Girgensons' agent, Kent Hughes, who said that the team and his client are having dialogue about a new contract.
"We are in communication with the Sabres and discussing his contract".
Girgensons, the former NHL All Star and 14th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft is now left to have to negotiate his new contract with Tim Murray.
By not accepting his qualifying offer, Girgensons and his agent semingly have their own compensation in mind. They obviously were not buying what Murray was selling in the qualifying offer. That is the player's right as stated in the NHL CBA.
One wonders, what is his value to the Sabres right now?
Is he a center or a winger?
Is he a top six or bottom six forward?
Was he just a great producer on a tanking Sabres team?
Can Zemgus sustain his production and growth over a longer period of time?
Monetraily, what is Girgensons' value to his Sabres team right now?
Is he worth the J.T. Miller $2.75M AAV that the NY Rangers signed their forward to last week to avoid arbitration?
Is he worth Foligno's $2.25M AAV on a one year deal?
Is he worth Winnipeg Jet Adam Lowry's $1.125M AAV on a two year deal?
That figure seems fair to me.
Why didn't Girgensons do what Foligno did and accept the challenge that Murray and Bylsma threw at him? Give us a great 2016-17 season, be a leader, earn more trust from your coaches and teammates, and lead by example. THEN you will be paid the big money in your next contract.
Murray and Bylsma are more or less telling all of their players that Buffalo, NY is now Buffalo, Missouri: The Show Me State.
Show don't tell.
In 202 career games, the burly forward has popped 30 goals and 40 assists.
The added value to his game is the 413 hits and 146 blocked shots that he has accumulated the past three seasons. He has 60 takeaways in tree seasons.
Girgensons is a puck possession man who is hard on his edges and has soft hands. He abuses opponents with his physicality along the walls.
He struggled mightily and scored only 7 goals-- 6 at even strength-- and added just 11 assists in 71 games.
Maybe it was the dramatic reduction in his ice time from one season to the next. Under Ted Nolan, Girgensons skated 19:05 TOI. Zemgus and Nolan were sympatico with one another having been together with Team Latvia before arriving in Buffalo at different times. When Nolan was fired and the tanking switch was flipped to the "off" position, Bylsma played Girgensons only 15:02 TOI per game.
Seemingly, Girgensons has more to give.
Maybe he should bet on himself like Marcus Foligno has done. Take the one year deal, work like mad to be in the best physical and mental shape, the play all 82 games and score 45-55 points next season.
The money will be there when the point production and consistency is put forth by Zemgus.