Former first round pick Zemgus Girgensons has spent a decade in the Buffalo Sabres system, and that was no easy feat in the 2010s.
Zemgus Girgensons never lived to expectations. But having played for just one team at the time of this writing, he was the one constant during the Buffalo Sabres darkest days. In an era of wasted drafts, Girgensons, selected 14th overall in 2012, has played eight seasons at the NHL level, all in the Queen City.
While you may read the headline and scoff, Girgensons is about to double the average NHL career length of 4.5 seasons. And if he lasts another four years in the NHL, Girgensons will join a club that just 25% of all NHL players have gained access to.
Clearly, Girgensons’ longevity shows that he is indeed much more serviceable than given credit for. Add to the fact he lasted eight seasons (nine, if you count the 2020-21 season that injuries kept him out of) with one team, and it makes his career more impressive.
Buffalo Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons has enjoyed a better career than given credit for
He has few career honors, but Girgensons still snagged a spot in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game. Okay, this is the 2014-15 Buffalo Sabres we are talking about. But still, he got the nod to represent the team, and that alone says he was at least moderately effective.
While he accumulated over 15:30 of average time on ice just once, Girgensons is also the type who found a spot as a role player. And that has certainly kept his value at least respectable, earning a reputation as one of the league’s more physical forwards, having averaged 125 hits per season.
He is also a player who takes care of the puck, with an average of 13 giveaways each year. In 2021-22, he also set a career high with a serviceable 49.8 FOW%. Not an eye-popping number, but one that shows he can at least be counted on in handling face-off duties.
Overall, Girgensons will never find himself mentioned in the same breath as NHL greats or even good players. He fell short of expectations as a first round pick, yet found a niche and turned it into a career for nearly a decade. For these reasons, some may call Girgensons a bust, but others will agree with me and say he is better than most give him credit for.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)