By the end of the dreadful 2013-14 season, there was only a handful of Buffalo Sabres players remaining that were worth the price of admission. One of the few was young forward Zemgus Girgensons, who had worked his way from the fourth line wing to top line center in what was otherwise a lost season for the Sabres.
In the final three games of ’13-’14, the Latvian native played more than 20 minutes per game, including a 23 minute effort against the Boston Bruins. His final stretch was also highlighted by a two goal game against Detroit and five shot game in a matchup against Tampa Bay.
While fans were excited by what they saw in terms of effort and physical play from the 6-foot-1, 190-pound “locomotive,” the biggest question on everyone’s mind after the season – including some within the Sabres’ organization – was: What is his ceiling?
Keep in mind the former 14th overall pick cannot legally drink in the United States until Jan. 5, 2015. He was two when Jim Kelly retired. He was five for No Goal. He remembers Dominik Hasek as a Red Wing. His prime is FIVE years away. F.I.V.E.
It’s easy to forget how young he is because of the way he plays – like he’ll be deported if he doesn’t give a full effort.
While the Sabres’ opening to his second season has been underwhelming, Girgensons’ play has been even better than where he left off last year.
Still, the consensus is second or third line center – that he isn’t enough of a playmaker to be a No. 1 center. From a scouting perspective, that is probably true. But he seems to be determined to run over that perception like it’s a defender between him and the goal.
Scoring touch…or…something
Girgensons isn’t a sniper like Claude Giroux. He isn’t a tip artist like Thomas Vanek. He isn’t a dangler like Datsyuk. He’s a snow plow and defenders are mailboxes.
The Sabres’ young forward uses his body, strength on skates and sheer determination to get to the front of the net to pound goals in the net.
As you can see here, the Carolina defenseman attempts to push him off the puck with little success. He does not score a goal, but gets a shot from the area players are most likely to score on a shot: Right on top of the goalie.
This is a snapshot of most of the offense he creates.
Here is a chart from SportingCharts.com on where he scored goals and took shots from last season (yellow = shots, red = goals)
Speed, speed, speed
Girgensons was drafted in the first round for a reason. There are plenty of players taken in the fifth round who work hard. But few (none) can skate like he can. Effort is a major part of his ability to blaze through open ice, with a burst that surprises opponents.
In this video, he combines the use of his speed, use of body to control the puck and ability to slam it into the net like Shaq putting home a dunk.
The way is two-way
While his creativity, play making a pure shooting will never match the elite offensive talents in the NHL, Girgensons’ value will come from the same place that players like Patrice Bergeron, Zach Parise, David Backes and Ryan Kesler’s comes from: Their ability to dominate the puck at both ends of the ice.
The Team Latvia center hounds opponents like they stole a $20 out of his wallet. He is active with his stick, poking it away from opponents who think they’re in the clear to start a rush in the other direction and he battles behind the net using his strength.
Intelligence and instincts are a major part of his defensive game, which has the potential to be elite – not the type of elite you hear about at the draft that really means “just pretty good,” but actually Selke Trophy worthy. His defensive reads are not perfect yet – sometimes chasing the puck around like a dog with a tennis ball – but his instincts for where the next pass is headed grade fairly high.
Originally Posted by mysticsoto
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