Zemgus Girgensons

BIOGRAPHY

Zemgus Girgensons was born January 5, 1994 in Riga, Latvia. He is a left wing in the National Hockey League.

Girgensons was selected 14th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Sabres. Before attending the Sabres' prospects' summer camp, Girgensons had committed to going to the University of Vermont Catamounts of the NCAA; however, he signed a professional contract with the Sabres on 13 July 2012, which forfeited his NCAA eligibility. 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.