The Buffalo Sabres and Zemgus Girgensons have reached agreement on a one-year contract, as first reported by TSN’s Travis Yost, via Tweet. Sportsnet’s Chris Johnson reports that the deal is worth $1.15MM. The Sabres confirmed the signing on their website.
Girgensons is coming off a disappointing season, tallying 18 points while netting just seven goals in 71 games. In 2014-15, Girgensons appeared to be on the verge of a breakout as he potted 15 goals and 30 points in 61 contests as a 21-year-old with the Sabres. More was certainly expected of him last season but Girgensons won’t turn 23 until January and still has the ability to be a key building block moving forward for Buffalo. He is poised to center Buffalo’s third line behind Ryan O’Reilly and Jack Eichel.
The signing leaves D Rasmus Ristolainen as the team’s sole remaining RFA. After re-upping Girgenson, the Sabres still have over $7MM in cap space—enough to cover both this deal and a new contract for the still unsigned Ristolainen.