Nearing the twilight of the NHL’s 2024 free agency day, and another veteran NHLer is on the move. News emerged this evening that longtime NHL forward Zemgus Girgensons signed a new contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The deal is for three years and carries an annual average value of $850,000. This deal will run out at the end of the 2026-27 season. Furthermore, General Manager Julien BriseBois must be ecstatic for this type of veteran addition to the roster.
From Buffalo to the Bay 🌴
We have signed free agent forward Zemgus Girgensons to a three-year contract worth an AAV of $850,000.
📝: https://t.co/rqEFna4dOM pic.twitter.com/ZcDlecEVKO
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) July 1, 2024
Zemgus Girgensons Signed by the Tampa Bay Lightning
Girgensons has only played for the Buffalo Sabres during his 10-year NHL career. The Latvian forward netted eight goals and six assists for 14 points in 63 games this campaign. He had a Corsi for of 45.9 and a relative Corsi of -5.0. The 30-year-old has 89 goals and 99 assists for 188 points in 688 career games. Buffalo originally took Girgensons in the first round, 14th overall of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
His best season was when he got 15 goals and 15 assists for 30 points in the 2014-15 campaign. He also was the runaway fan vote winner for the 2015 All-Star Game after getting bolstered by votes from his home nation. Girgensons has played for his native Latvia and the junior and senior level. He helped his country finish eighth at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
What It Means
The Sabres seem to have a lot of younger prospects itching to get game time. This meant that Girgensons likely wasn’t going to have a spot on the club. Buffalo is trying to end the 13-year Stanley Cup Playoff drought and it feels its time for some fresh faces.
Girgensons is a decent bottom-six forward. He can help kill penalties and plays a physical game as well. Given all the moves the Lightning made today, and their propensity for perennial playoff contention, his veteran presence in the lineup will not hurt. He can be a depth piece in the squad for a Lightning team looking for solid defensive forwards. It’ll be odd seeing him in something other than a Sabres sweater. However, that’s the nature of the hockey business.
Main photo by: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
