Zemgus Girgensons

Playing career

Girgensons began playing hockey in EVHS hockey school and was coached by former Dinamo Riga player Edmunds Vasiļjevs. He played in Latvian minor and youth leagues.

Junior

In 2009, Girgensons moved to North America and played in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) for the Green Mountain Glades. The next season, he moved to the United States Hockey League (USHL) and played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. In 2011, he became a USHL champion with the Fighting Saints, and he also participated in the USHL All-Star Game. In the 2011–12 season, his last as a junior, Girgensons was named as the captain of the Fighting Saints.

Professional

Buffalo Sabres

Girgensons entered his draft eligibility year as a projected first-round draft pick. He was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round, 14th overall. The Sabres had already used their own first-round pick, selecting Mikhail Grigorenko 12th overall, but traded a first-round (21st overall) pick (from Nashville), which Calgary used to select Mark Jankowski, and a second-round (42nd overall) pick, to move up seven spots to draft Girgensons. Before attending the Sabres' prospects' summer camp, Girgensons had committed to going to the University of Vermont Catamounts of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); however, he signed a professional contract with the Sabres on 13 July 2012, which forfeited his NCAA eligibility.

Girgensons began the 2012–13 season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Rochester Americans. He had a slow start to the season and, at the beginning of 2013, he suffered an injury from a late hit by Richard Pánik of the Syracuse Crunch. However, he finished the season strongly, scoring three goals in the Americans' first-round defeat in the Calder Cup playoffs.

After scoring three goals and adding one assist in five preseason games, Girgensons began the 2013–14 season in the NHL with the Sabres. He scored his first career NHL goal in the Sabres' season opener against Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings on 2 October 2013.

Girgensons was the runaway leader in fan voting for the 2015 All-Star Game, buoyed in large part by votes from his native Latvia.

On 1 September 2016, Girgensons, as a restricted free agent re-signed with the Sabres, agreeing to a one-year, $1.15 million contract extension. The following season, on 17 August 2017, Girgensons re-signed with the Sabres again, agreeing to a two-year contract worth $3.2 million

On 5 July 2019, Girgensons signed a one-year, $1.6 million contract extension with the Sabres. He posted 12 goals during the 2019–20 season, the second-highest goal total of his career and enjoyed success playing alongside Johan Larsson and Kyle Okposo, a line dubbed "The Roarin' 20's" by fans due to the trio's jersey numbers. On 8 October 2020, Girgensons opted to forgo free agency and signed a three-year, $6.6 million contract extension with the Sabres.

On 4 January 2021, a day before his 27th birthday, Girgensons sustained a lower-body injury during a training camp scrimmage ahead of the 2020–21 season and had to be helped off the ice. It was revealed on 6 January, that he suffered a hamstring injury and had undergone successful surgery to correct it. It effectively ruled him out for the season.

Prior to the start of the 2021–22 season, the Sabres named Girgensons one of two alternate captains, along with Kyle Okposo, as Jack Eichel was stripped of the captaincy prior to the season due to injury.

On 20 June 2023, he signed a one-year contract with the Sabres.

Tampa Bay Lightning

On 1 July 2024, Girgensons became a free agent for the first time in his career following his first 10 NHL seasons with the Sabres. He was promptly signed to add forward centre depth on a three-year, $2.55 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

International play

Girgensons participated at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships as a member of the Latvian junior team and at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships. He made his senior national team debut in 2013 World Championships against the United States and scored his first international goal against Slovakia. He also was suspended for one game for spearing Branislav Mezei in the first period of the match in retaliation for an earlier hit.

On 7 January 2014, it was announced that Latvia head coach Ted Nolan had included Girgensons on his national team roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Girgensons scored his first Olympic goal in Latvia's third tournament game, coming versus Sweden off of a power play goal against Henrik Lundqvist.

Girgensons has played for Latvia in the 2013 IIHF World Championship, 2014 IIHF World Championship, 2016 IIHF World Championship and 2017 IIHF World Championship.

Personal life

Girgensons comes from an ice hockey family. His father, Aldis Girgensons, played as defenceman for RTU Hanza Riga, and is the general manager of East Hokkaido Cranes of the Asia League Ice Hockey (ALIH) and led the team to victory in the All-Japan Championship in December 2020.

Girgensons and his wife have three children.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honours

References

References

1. (23 June 2012). "Girgensonu ar 14. numuru izvēlas Bufalo "Sabres"". Sportacentrs.com.
2. "Buffalo sabres 2012 draft selections". nhl.com.
3. (22 March 2013). "Pursuit of passion". [[International Ice Hockey Federation.
4. (1 March 2013). "Edmunds Vasiļjevs: "Mūsu hokeja skola ir arī valstiska lieta"". jjz.lv.
5. "Spēlētāja dati". lhf.lv.
6. "Green Mountain Glades 2009/10 roster". eliteprospects.com.
7. "Dubuque Fighting Saints 2010/11 roster". eliteprospects.com.
8. "Clark Cup Champions". ushl.com.
9. "USHL Names CCM Midseason All-Stars". ushl.com.
10. (7 September 2011). "Fighting Saints Open Camp, Name Captains". oursportscentral.com.
11. (23 June 2012). "Quality outdoes quantity on Draft Night trades". nhl.com.
12. (1 November 2011). "Girgensons talks future plans ... in Vermont". nhl.com.
13. (13 July 2012). "Girgensons, Sabres agree to terms on entry-level contract". nhl.com.
14. (13 July 2012). "Report: Buffalo first-rounder Girgensons passes on school, will sign with Sabres". nbcsports.com.
15. (14 January 2013). "Girgensons knocked out of Amerks' lineup, likely with concussion". buffalonews.com.
16. (2 May 2013). "Girgensons impressive, but Amerks get swept from playoffs". buffalonews.com.
17. (3 October 2013). "Girgensons Scores in Opening Night Loss".
18. (9 December 2014). "Sabres' Girgensons dominating All-Star voting after 3 weeks".
19. "Sabres Ink Girgensons to One-Year Contract".
20. "Girgensons signs two-year contract with Sabres".
21. (14 October 2019). "Buffalo Sabres: Stars Provide Challenge for Sabres First Line". Fansided.
22. (6 January 2021). "Sabres' Zemgus Girgensons out for season after hamstring injury". Sportsnet.
23. (20 June 2023). "Sabres sign Girgensons to 1-year contract".
24. (1 July 2024). "Lightning sign Zemgus Girgensons to a three-year contract". [[Tampa Bay Lightning]].
25. (5 May 2013). "Game Lineup". [[International Ice Hockey Federation.
26. (9 May 2013). "Game Summary". [[International Ice Hockey Federation.
27. (13 May 2013). "Girgensons suspended one game". [[International Ice Hockey Federation.
28. (7 January 2014). "Nolans nosauc sastāvu Olimpiskajām spēlēm". lhf.lv.
29. (15 February 2014). "Lundqvist, Sweden Stay Perfect With Win Over Latvia". NHL.com.
30. "Aldis Girgensons at eliteprospects.com".
31. (23 September 2021). "Zemgus Girgensons excited to be back, believes Sabres' rebuild can work". Buffalo Hockey Beat.
32. (27 December 2013). "Par 2013. gada Latvijas labākajiem sportistiem atzīti Martins Dukurs un Anastasija Grigorjeva".