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Zemgus Girgensons

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Zemgus Girgensons
Girgensons with the Buffalo Sabres in 2016
Born (1994-01-05) 5 January 1994 (age 30)
Riga, Latvia
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Tampa Bay Lightning
Buffalo Sabres
National team  Latvia
NHL draft 14th overall, 2012
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2012–present

Zemgus Girgensons (born 5 January 1994) is a Latvian professional ice hockey forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 14th overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres.[1][2] With this selection, Girgensons became the highest-drafted Latvian in NHL history,[3] 16 spots higher than previous highest selection, Sandis Ozoliņš, in 1991.[1] In the previous year, Girgensons was selected in the second round, 28th overall, in the 2011 KHL Junior Draft by CSKA Moscow.[4] Girgensons was voted to the NHL All-Star Game in 2015.

Playing career

[edit]

Girgensons began playing hockey in EVHS hockey school and was coached by former Dinamo Riga player Edmunds Vasiļjevs.[5] He played in Latvian minor and youth leagues.[6]

Junior

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In 2009, Girgensons moved to North America and played in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) for the Green Mountain Glades.[7] The next season, he moved to the United States Hockey League (USHL) and played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints.[8] In 2011, he became a USHL champion with the Fighting Saints,[9] and he also participated in the USHL All-Star Game.[10] In the 2011–12 season, his last as a junior, Girgensons was named as the captain of the Fighting Saints.[11]

Professional

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Buffalo Sabres

[edit]
With the Sabres in 2013

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.[12] 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);[13] however, he signed a professional contract with the Sabres on 13 July 2012, which forfeited his NCAA eligibility.[14][15]

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.[16] However, he finished the season strongly, scoring three goals in the Americans' first-round defeat in the Calder Cup playoffs.[17]

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.[18]

Girgensons was the runaway leader in fan voting for the 2015 All-Star Game, buoyed in large part by votes from his native Latvia.[19]

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.[20] The following season, on 17 August 2017, Girgensons re-signed with the Sabres again, agreeing to a two-year contract worth $3.2 million [21]

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.[22] 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 NHL season and had to be helped off the ice. It was revealed on January 6 that he suffered a hamstring injury and had undergone successful surgery to correct it. It effectively ruled him out for the season.[23]

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.[citation needed]

On 20 June 2023, he signed a one-year contract with the Sabres.[24]

Tampa Bay Lightning

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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.[25]

International play

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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.[26][27][28]

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.[29] Girgensons scored his first Olympic goal in Latvia's third tournament game, coming versus Sweden off of a power play goal against Henrik Lundqvist.[30]

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

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Girgensons comes from an ice hockey family. His father, Aldis Girgensons, played as defenceman for RTU Hanza Riga,[31] 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.[citation needed]

Girgensons and his wife have two children.[32]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Green Mountain Glades EmJHL 19 17 12 29 6 — — — — —
2009–10 Green Mountain Glades EJHL 42 28 29 57 19 2 0 2 0 2
2010–11 Dubuque Fighting Saints USHL 51 21 28 49 46 11 3 5 8 8
2011–12 Dubuque Fighting Saints USHL 49 24 31 55 69 2 2 2 4 0
2012–13 Rochester Americans AHL 61 6 11 17 28 3 3 0 3 0
2013–14 Buffalo Sabres NHL 70 8 14 22 14 — — — — —
2014–15 Buffalo Sabres NHL 61 15 15 30 25 — — — — —
2015–16 Buffalo Sabres NHL 71 7 11 18 20 — — — — —
2016–17 Buffalo Sabres NHL 75 7 9 16 18 — — — — —
2017–18 Buffalo Sabres NHL 71 7 8 15 26 — — — — —
2018–19 Buffalo Sabres NHL 72 5 13 18 17 — — — — —
2019–20 Buffalo Sabres NHL 69 12 7 19 10 — — — — —
2021–22 Buffalo Sabres NHL 56 10 8 18 27 — — — — —
2022–23 Buffalo Sabres NHL 80 10 8 18 14 — — — — —
2023–24 Buffalo Sabres NHL 63 8 6 14 21 — — — — —
NHL totals 688 89 99 188 192 — — — — —

International

[edit]
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2010 Latvia WJC18 9th 6 1 1 2 2
2011 Latvia WJC D1 11th 5 4 3 7 8
2012 Latvia WJC 9th 6 2 0 2 6
2013 Latvia WC 11th 5 1 0 1 0
2014 Latvia OG 8th 5 1 1 2 2
2014 Latvia WC 11th 6 2 0 2 29
2016 Latvia WC 13th 7 1 0 1 4
2016 Latvia OGQ DNQ 3 0 1 1 2
2017 Latvia WC 10th 7 1 1 2 0
Junior totals 17 7 4 11 16
Senior totals 33 6 3 9 37

Awards and honours

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Award Year Ref
USHL
All-Star Game 2011
Clark Cup champion 2011
First All-Star Team 2012
NHL
All-Star Game 2015
Latvia
Rising Star of the Year Award 2013 [33]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Girgensonu ar 14. numuru izvēlas Bufalo "Sabres"" (in Latvian). Sportacentrs.com. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  2. ^ "Buffalo sabres 2012 draft selections". nhl.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  3. ^ O'Leary, Ryan (22 March 2013). "Pursuit of passion". IIHF. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  4. ^ "2011 KHL Draft". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  5. ^ "Edmunds Vasiļjevs: "Mūsu hokeja skola ir arī valstiska lieta"" (in Latvian). jjz.lv. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  6. ^ "Spēlētāja dati" (in Latvian). lhf.lv. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  7. ^ "Green Mountain Glades 2009/10 roster". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  8. ^ "Dubuque Fighting Saints 2010/11 roster". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Clark Cup Champions". ushl.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  10. ^ "USHL Names CCM Midseason All-Stars". ushl.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  11. ^ "Fighting Saints Open Camp, Name Captains". oursportscentral.com. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  12. ^ Masisak, Corey (23 June 2012). "Quality outdoes quantity on Draft Night trades". nhl.com. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  13. ^ Morreale, Mike G. (1 November 2011). "Girgensons talks future plans ... in Vermont". nhl.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  14. ^ "Girgensons, Sabres agree to terms on entry-level contract". nhl.com. 13 July 2012. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  15. ^ Halford, Mike (13 July 2012). "Report: Buffalo first-rounder Girgensons passes on school, will sign with Sabres". nbcsports.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  16. ^ Harrington, Mike (14 January 2013). "Girgensons knocked out of Amerks' lineup, likely with concussion". buffalonews.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  17. ^ Vogl, John (2 May 2013). "Girgensons impressive, but Amerks get swept from playoffs". buffalonews.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  18. ^ "Girgensons Scores in Opening Night Loss". 3 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  19. ^ McLaren, Ian (9 December 2014). "Sabres' Girgensons dominating All-Star voting after 3 weeks". theScore.com. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Sabres Ink Girgensons to One-Year Contract".
  21. ^ "Girgensons signs two-year contract with Sabres".
  22. ^ Zehler, Pete (14 October 2019). "Buffalo Sabres: Stars Provide Challenge for Sabres First Line". sabrenoise.com. Fansided. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Sabres' Zemgus Girgensons out for season after hamstring injury". sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  24. ^ LaBarber, Jourdon (20 June 2023). "Sabres sign Girgensons to 1-year contract". NHL.com. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  25. ^ "Lightning sign Zemgus Girgensons to a three-year contract". Tampa Bay Lightning. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Game Lineup" (PDF). IIHF. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  27. ^ "Game Summary" (PDF). IIHF. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  28. ^ "Girgensons suspended one game". IIHF. 13 May 2013. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  29. ^ "Nolans nosauc sastāvu Olimpiskajām spēlēm" (in Latvian). lhf.lv. 7 January 2014. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  30. ^ Calamia, Matt (15 February 2014). "Lundqvist, Sweden Stay Perfect With Win Over Latvia". NHL.com. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  31. ^ "Aldis Girgensons at eliteprospects.com". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  32. ^ Hoppe, Bill (23 September 2021). "Zemgus Girgensons excited to be back, believes Sabres' rebuild can work". Buffalo Hockey Beat. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  33. ^ "Par 2013. gada Latvijas labākajiem sportistiem atzīti Martins Dukurs un Anastasija Grigorjeva". delfi.lv (in Latvian). 27 December 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
[edit]
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Latvian Rising Sportspersonality of the Year
2013 		Succeeded by
Sporting positions
Preceded by Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick
2012 		Succeeded by
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