3 pending free agents the Sabres must bring back in 2024-25

Zemgus Girgensons should be a mainstay on the lower lines again

Yep, Zemgus Girgensons was someone who I figured would be a stopgap with the Sabres when he returned on a one-year deal. And while it would be great to see him land with a team that has been a surefire contender recently, it’s still worth mentioning that the Blue and Gold may not be as far from contention as their “step back” this season implied. 

When you’re the youngest and one of the lesser-experienced teams in hockey, it will eventually catch up to you, and it’s one of a few reasons the Sabres season didn’t go the way most fans envisioned. For 2024-25, that won’t be the case, and Girgensons will realize that, but experience aside, it’s not the only reason he should return. 

Overall, he’s been a great player on the fourth line and an outstanding leader. He’s once again landing triple-digits in body checks with 134, but he’s also made the most of his ice time in the offensive zone, scoring 13 points, eight goals, and three game-winners. 

Shifting gears back to the defensive side, Girgensons remains a sound option on the penalty kill, with 55.5 minutes through 58 games and an on-ice save percentage of 90.8 to go along with it. That save percentage sits at 93.5 at 5-on-5, and the Sabres have scored a few more goals than they have allowed when he’s on the ice in that same situation.