Confirmed Signing with Link: Buffalo re-signs Zemgus Girgensons [1 year]

[Sojourn]

And it snowed once in California, so global warming isn't real.

Do you know anything about California?

And the peak of forwards varies a lot. You can't just lock in 22-23 as peak years, with no variation. You'd be wrong.

 

[MardyBum]

Do you know anything about California?

And the peak of forwards varies a lot. You can't just lock in 22-23 as peak years, with no variation. You'd be wrong.

TBF if he's from Latvia he probably (hopefully?) meant LA.

 

[AustonsNostrils]

The odd thing is Zemgus shows a nice pair of hands with highlight reel goals sometimes, the tank season he played on the top line prorated to an 82 game season would be 20G 20A 40 PTS

When he plays for Latvia's national team he's never in the top point getters for them is he?

My view on him is he is a player who will shine when the Sabres get back to the playoffs, he's built for them.

 

[AustonsNostrils]

Do you know anything about California?

And the peak of forwards varies a lot. You can't just lock in 22-23 as peak years, with no variation. You'd be wrong.

He's from Europe, to people outside the US California is Socal. Americans and Canadians know less about Europe and the rest of the world than the other way around tbh.

 

[Canadian Canuck]

I'd love him on the nucks

 

[The Wizz]

He needs to get back to center. He doesn't seem comfortable at wing at all. He'd be a perfect 3rd line center for the Sabres.

 

[HugoLalumiere]

1 mill for an all star?

What is John Scott worth then? He's a BIG All-Star...

 

[Samsonite23]

He needs to get back to center. He doesn't seem comfortable at wing at all. He'd be a perfect 3rd line center for the Sabres.

He really doesn't look that out of place on the wing...

He's a great forechecker and uses his speed more there. He was very good defensively there as well.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Expected. He didn't exactly earn a big pay day last year.

We'll see if Bylsma even gives him the opportunity to show him he deserves more. Clearly didn't with the constant shuffling last year.

What are Buffalo's lines looking like for next year?

Who knows? I feel confident penciling in:
?-O'Reilly-?
?-Eichel-Reinhart
?-?-?
?-?-?

How Bylsma will fill the rest in is anyone's guess.

 

[paulmm3]

This will be a big year for ZG certainly.

While 18 points last year isn't the offensive production anyone wanted, I'd point out that his second and third most common linemates by shared TOI were offensive black holes Matt Moulson and Brian Gionta, and his shooting pct of 4.0% was good for dead last among Sabres forwards.

 

[HugoLalumiere]

Expected. He didn't exactly earn a big pay day last year.

We'll see if Bylsma even gives him the opportunity to show him he deserves more. Clearly didn't with the constant shuffling last year.

Probably the reason he signed only for 1 year. Feels he's worth more (he very well might be) but didn't really have any leverage after last year so he agreed to sign at that price but not long term until he reasserts his place. Solid player, heart and soul kind of guy.

 

[SnoopDogg]

Good deal, we need to sign Risto now..

 

[Pyrophorus]

1.15M for a guy that's twice as good defensively as any Leafs forward

Whoever they are next year?

 

[Brock Radunske]

Bubuhububttt he's so valuable!! How did he only sign for 4th liner term and money!

 

[Meichel Kane]

Bubuhububttt he's so valuable!! How did he only sign for 4th liner term and money!

 

[MikeyMike01]

Forwards peak at 22-23 yo on average.

Based on what? All the stats I've seen suggest somewhere around 26.

 

[danielpalfredsson]

Why would Vegas not want a RFA? They would control his rights just like the Sabres did this summer.

Although Vegas will have a window prior to the draft where they will be able to negotiate with unprotected free agents, they have to select 20(?) players under contract. If they really like an RFA, they'll obviously take them, but strategically they cannot select more than 10 UFA/RFAs so teams signing players to 1 year deals makes Vegas selecting them (slightly) less likely.

 

[zbubble]

Based on what? All the stats I've seen suggest somewhere around 26.

Here's the problem with these numbers studies. It is shown that when looking at all nhl players, the peak is like 24. But here's the thing to keep in mind - half the league is made up of 3rd and 4th liners that don't develop like the above average and elite pkayers do, so they pull the number down because they hit a ceiling early on that never gets any higher. When you only focus on the upoer echelon of forwards, they actually peak at age 28.

 

[izzy]

Gotta prove himself

 

[Seanaconda]

He's from Europe, to people outside the US California is Socal. Americans and Canadians know less about Europe and the rest of the world than the other way around tbh.

California is a weird state to pick for that statement tho. It's probably the most district state other than Texas for someone to find on the map of the US. And it covered like half the west coast north to south. Easier to choose a tiny state to the south

 

[sabrebuild]

His development has been non-standard in terms of how much 1st-line and PP playing time he got as a rookie grinder. One would assume that it would facilitate his growth as a player. That was 2-3 years ago. Now he's dropped to the 3rd line and might have to play on the 4th next season, because the forward corps are getting quite crowded in Buffalo.

And you're claiming he's going to make substantial progress as a player right now? Girgensons is going to develop offensive tools by playing a more primitive game, by playing less and along with worse linemates?

There's no basis on which to base such a bold statement. When it comes to facts, evidence and statistics, everything points to the opposite.

3 years ago he was a 19 year old on the 4th line for most of his nhl time.

2 years ago he took away the 1c spot from two vets, Ennis and Hodgson, at age 20.

Last year he looked great on Eichel's wing, played shutdown d in his role as the 3C. And his individual production took a hit, both for role reasons and chance.

I think someone is being less than neutral.

 

[Club]

Good signing. Hopefully he can turn it around

 

[airbus220]

Although Vegas will have a window prior to the draft where they will be able to negotiate with unprotected free agents, they have to select 20(?) players under contract. If they really like an RFA, they'll obviously take them, but strategically they cannot select more than 10 UFA/RFAs so teams signing players to 1 year deals makes Vegas selecting them (slightly) less likely.

Yes, Vegas can only draft 10 RFA but they might draft 10 because Vegas is only alowed to draft 73M in cap hit but RFA should have more value than their qualifier. That other teams try to have more unsigned RFA at the draft protects these players little bit. Also these RFA could be qualified for more money and then Vegas drafting them could be less likely.

 

[Namejs]

Do you know anything about California?

Do you know anything about rhetorical devices?

Yes, the peak of forwards varies quite a lot. Have I said or implied that there's no variation? No, I have not.

You can't just lock in 22-23 as peak years, with no variation. You'd be wrong.

¨
You should work on your reading comprehension. It was implied that Girgensons is in fact still a prospect who is bound to become a better player because of his young age, which is false. Although it is indeed a very common misconception among laymen, which is why the forward peak statistic was used to establish the fact that it is usually not the case.

As such, the burden of proof lies on anyone making the claim that Girgensons is bound to make a substantial improvement in the coming years. You can hope that he's going to make leaps and bounds, but you can't think it's going to happen without a good reason, because everything points to the opposite. No reason and no argument has been brought up in this thread so far, which means it's a completely unwarranted position to take.

 

[Funk21]

He was jerked around the lineup all season long. Looked great when playing with Eichel (as everyone saw coming) but Bylsma would rather play Kane there for some reason. As the poster above me correctly pointed out, he filled similar role to Johan Larsson except for being more versatile so her got the short end of the stick down the stretch.

With Eichel he was on pace for 30+ even strength points. As it was Eichel led the team with 29 iirc.

First, best name in Hockey

Second, if Bylsma is to stupid to realize Kane at this point isn't worth losing or even ruining another kid over then your team has issues. If he is effective playing with Eichel on the wing then play him there. If not give him the third line centres job and put some effective players because we all know he can excel at the role.