10-year veteran has 13 points (8 goals, 5 assists) in 60 games this season
The Buffalo Sabres dealt their most experienced players at the NHL Trade Deadline last month, shipping out team captain Kyle Okposo to Florida and defenseman Erik Johnson to Philadelphia, but GM Kevyn Adams opted to keep winger Zemgus Girgensons.
The 30-year-old Latvian has played all 10 of his NHL seasons with the Sabres since being drafted in 2012, came back after becoming an unrestricted free agent last summer and signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal, but with Buffalo missing the playoffs for a 13th straight season, playing their home finale against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, and with Girgensons being a UFA this summer, the game could be his final contest at Key Bank Center.
"It's the same thing as the trade deadline, (my future is) a conversation to be had after the year, so I'm not going into the game thinking (it will be my last), Girgensons said after the Sabres morning skate on Thursday.
Girgensons will play his 686th game with Buffalo on Thursday and has 13 points (8 goals, 5 assists) in 60 games this season playing mostly on the fourth line. After not being dealt at the deadline on March 8, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams indicated that he still believes the veteran forward has something left to contribute.
"Zemgus is so important within the fabric of this team,” Adams said. “I've made it clear to him (that a new contract is) something that we're going to talk about……I'm really glad we're keeping him because there's something special about him and I think it's important here down the stretch that he's in that locker room."
With many of the Sabres referencing the fact that the club being young is a factor in their missing the playoffs again, and both Girgensons and management leaving things open, it is highly likely that Adams will be amenable to bringing the winger back.
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