Zemgus Girgensons
#28 · Centre · Tampa Bay Lightning
Born Jan 5, 1994 in Riga, LVA (age 32) · 6'3", 200 lb · Shoots left · Drafted 14th overall in 2012 by BUF (round 1)
Compare with a similar player
The forwards closest to him in points in 2023-24. Pick one to see the two side by side, or choose someone else.
Justin Bailey
SJS ·
14 P in 59 GP
Tanner Jeannot
TBL ·
14 P in 55 GP
Taylor Raddysh
CHI ·
14 P in 73 GP
Klim Kostin
SJS ·
14 P in 52 GP
Liam O'Brien
ARI ·
14 P in 75 GP
Career
Regular season games only. Pick a season to see its game log below. Cap hit is what he counted against the salary cap that season, where it is known.
Points by season. The darker bar is the season shown below.
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | Shots | Hits | P/GP | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | BUF | 70 | 8 | 14 | 22 | -6 | 14 | 115 | 161 | 0.31 | $894K |
| 2014-15 | BUF | 61 | 15 | 15 | 30 | -16 | 25 | 115 | 127 | 0.49 | $894K |
| 2015-16 | BUF | 71 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 0 | 20 | 110 | 125 | 0.25 | $894K |
| 2016-17 | BUF | 75 | 7 | 9 | 16 | -7 | 18 | 112 | 120 | 0.21 | $1.15M |
| 2017-18 | BUF | 71 | 7 | 8 | 15 | -12 | 26 | 113 | 134 | 0.21 | $1.6M |
| 2018-19 | BUF | 72 | 5 | 13 | 18 | -11 | 17 | 78 | 144 | 0.25 | $1.6M |
| 2019-20 | BUF | 69 | 12 | 7 | 19 | -1 | 10 | 85 | 110 | 0.28 | $1.6M |
| 2021-22 | BUF | 56 | 10 | 8 | 18 | -7 | 27 | 92 | 81 | 0.32 | $2.2M |
| 2022-23 | BUF | 80 | 10 | 8 | 18 | -5 | 14 | 114 | 96 | 0.23 | $2.2M |
| 2023-24 | BUF | 63 | 8 | 6 | 14 | -1 | 21 | 73 | 141 | 0.22 | $2.5M |
| 2024-25 | TBL | 82 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -7 | 47 | 83 | 174 | 0.07 | $850K |
| 2025-26 | TBL | 74 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 1 | 31 | 89 | 195 | 0.27 | $850K |
| 2026-27 | TBL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0.33 | $925K |
| 13 seasons | Career | 847 | 100 | 115 | 215 | -72 | 272 | 1180 | 1619 | 0.25 |
Playoffs
Playoff games only. Pick a season to see that year's bracket.
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | Shots | Hits | P/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | TBL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 0.00 |
| 2025-26 | TBL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 4 | 2 | 27 | 0.00 |
| 2 seasons | Playoffs | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 4 | 5 | 40 | 0.00 |
2023-24 season totals
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | Shots | Hits | P/GP | Shooting % | Avg TOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | 8 | 6 | 14 | -1 | 21 | 73 | 141 | 0.22 | 11.0 | 11:51 |
Contract
His cap hit for the whole season, set against what he did in the regular season. Lower is better value. In a season still being played the cost per point starts high and falls as the games add up. Value is coloured by where it ranks among the 718 ranked skaters whose contract is known. How value is worked out.
The contract
Signed by the Buffalo Sabres on Jun 20, 2023, as an extension of the contract he was on: 1 year and $2.5M, beginning in 2023-24. It runs through 2023-24, so this is its last season, after which he is an unrestricted free agent.
| Season | Cap hit | Base salary | Signing bonus | Performance bonuses | Paid in all | Clause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | $2.5M | $2.5M | $0 | $2.5M |
Each season of the contract, with this one marked. The cap hit is the same every year; what he is paid is not. The pay is as written when the contract was recorded in October 2024, so a later change, such as the rise in the lowest salary for 2026-27, is not shown.
Contracts he has signed
| Signed | Signed by | Kind | Seasons | Years | In all | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2024 | Tampa Bay Lightning | New contract | 2024-25 to 2026-27 | 3 | $2.625M | $850K |
| Jun 20, 2023 | Buffalo Sabres | Extension | 2023-24 to 2023-24 | 1 | $2.5M | $2.5M |
| Oct 8, 2020 | Buffalo Sabres | Extension | 2020-21 to 2022-23 | 3 | $6.6M | $2.2M |
| Jul 5, 2019 | Buffalo Sabres | New contract | 2019-20 to 2019-20 | 1 | $1.6M | $1.6M |
| Aug 17, 2017 | Buffalo Sabres | New contract | 2017-18 to 2018-19 | 2 | $3.2M | $1.6M |
| Sep 1, 2016 | Buffalo Sabres | New contract | 2016-17 to 2016-17 | 1 | $1.15M | $1.15M |
| Jul 15, 2012 | Buffalo Sabres | Entry-level | 2013-14 to 2015-16 signed for 2012-13, slid | 3 | $4.2M | $894K |
Every contract on record for him, newest first, with the team that signed him to it and the day it was signed. The one covering 2023-24 is marked. An extension is signed while the contract before it is still running, often a year ahead. A row with no team or date is a contract known only by its cap hit, most often one signed since October 2024.
2023-24 analytics
Rating
Each number is coloured by where it ranks among the 469 ranked forwards: green is in the top fifth and red the bottom fifth, with paler shades in between and amber for the middle. Hover over a tile for its percentile.
The goals he added to his team's goal difference, compared with a spare-part player given the same ice time. Each part is measured against the league, so zero is an average skater, and the rank beside it is among forwards. A full season is about two-thirds the player and one-third chance.
On the ice
What happened at five-on-five while he was on the ice. What these numbers mean
Each share is coloured by where it ranks among the 616 skaters who played enough to be ranked: green is in the top fifth and red the bottom fifth, with paler shades in between and amber for the middle. Hover over a tile for its percentile. PDO and attempts taken are left plain, since neither is good or bad on its own.
Who he played with
| Forward line | GP | Time | CF% | xGF% | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Okposo · Zemgus Girgensons · Peyton Krebs | 22 | 93:28 | 53.9 | 45.0 | 0-2 |
| Zemgus Girgensons · Eric Robinson · Peyton Krebs | 13 | 68:49 | 59.6 | 66.9 | 5-1 |
| Kyle Okposo · Zemgus Girgensons · Eric Robinson | 8 | 56:57 | 58.4 | 55.6 | 2-1 |
| Kyle Okposo · Zemgus Girgensons · Tyson Jost | 11 | 53:15 | 44.4 | 47.8 | 1-0 |
The lines he spent the most time in at five-on-five, with the team's share of the shot attempts and expected goals, and the goals for and against, while they were out. The two shares are coloured as above, against the league's lines that played a fair amount together. Hover over one for its percentile.
Chances and finishing
Expected goals adds up how likely each of his shots was to go in, judged by where it came from, what kind of shot it was and whether it was a rebound. All situations, leaving out shots at an empty net.
Each bar shows the share of forwards he is ahead of, among the 438 who played 300 minutes or more this season.
His goals and his expected goals as the season went on. When the goals line pulls away above, he is scoring more than his chances were worth; below, less.
Where he shot from
Every attempt he took this season, in all situations, attacking the net on the right. There is a dot for each attempt, bigger for a better chance. "Show as heat map" shades the ice by where the attempts came from. Click a goal for its details.
Game log
| Date | Opponent | Result | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | Shots | Hits | TOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2024 | @ TBL | W 4-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12:34 |
| Apr 13, 2024 | @ FLA | L 2-3 (OT) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10:50 |
| Apr 11, 2024 | vs WSH | W 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11:47 |
| Apr 9, 2024 | @ DAL | L 2-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10:56 |
| Apr 5, 2024 | vs PHI | W 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11:36 |
| Apr 2, 2024 | vs WSH | W 6-2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14:22 |
| Mar 30, 2024 | vs TOR | L 0-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 14:21 |
| Mar 29, 2024 | vs NJD | W 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 07:07 |
| Mar 27, 2024 | vs OTT | L 2-6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11:10 |
| Mar 24, 2024 | @ CGY | W 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13:05 |
| Mar 21, 2024 | @ EDM | L 3-8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 09:06 |
| Mar 19, 2024 | @ VAN | L 2-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10:24 |
| Mar 18, 2024 | @ SEA | W 6-2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 12:54 |
| Mar 16, 2024 | @ DET | L 1-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13:17 |
| Mar 14, 2024 | vs NYI | W 4-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13:42 |
| Mar 12, 2024 | vs DET | W 7-3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 13:16 |
| Mar 9, 2024 | vs EDM | W 3-2 (SO) | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 15:03 |
| Mar 7, 2024 | @ NSH | L 2-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13:17 |
| Mar 6, 2024 | @ TOR | L 1-2 (OT) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 16:44 |
| Mar 3, 2024 | vs WPG | L 2-5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11:35 |
| Mar 2, 2024 | vs VGK | W 7-2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 13:49 |
| Feb 29, 2024 | @ TBL | W 3-2 (OT) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14:25 |
| Feb 27, 2024 | @ FLA | L 2-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 10:38 |
| Feb 25, 2024 | vs CAR | W 3-2 (SO) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 09:54 |
| Feb 23, 2024 | @ CBJ | W 2-1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 11:02 |
| Feb 21, 2024 | @ MTL | W 3-2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11:24 |
| Feb 19, 2024 | vs ANA | L 3-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 08:34 |
| Feb 17, 2024 | @ MIN | W 3-2 (OT) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10:07 |
| Feb 15, 2024 | vs FLA | L 0-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 10:50 |
| Feb 13, 2024 | vs LAK | W 7-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11:27 |
| Feb 10, 2024 | vs STL | L 1-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 09:20 |
| Feb 6, 2024 | vs DAL | L 1-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 08:05 |
| Jan 24, 2024 | @ LAK | W 5-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 01:01 |
| Jan 23, 2024 | @ ANA | L 2-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 12:46 |
| Jan 20, 2024 | vs TBL | L 1-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11:11 |
| Jan 18, 2024 | vs CHI | W 3-0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 13:48 |
| Jan 15, 2024 | vs SJS | W 3-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14:29 |
| Jan 13, 2024 | vs VAN | L 0-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12:49 |
| Jan 11, 2024 | vs OTT | W 5-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11:19 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | vs SEA | L 2-5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11:29 |
| Jan 6, 2024 | @ PIT | W 3-1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 08:28 |
| Jan 4, 2024 | @ MTL | W 6-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 11:58 |
| Dec 31, 2023 | @ OTT | L 1-5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 09:26 |
| Nov 24, 2023 | vs PIT | W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 06:35 |
| Nov 22, 2023 | @ WSH | L 3-4 (OT) | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14:07 |
| Nov 19, 2023 | @ CHI | W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13:23 |
| Nov 17, 2023 | @ WPG | L 2-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 12:34 |
| Nov 14, 2023 | vs BOS | L 2-5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 15:48 |
| Nov 11, 2023 | @ PIT | L 0-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 14:30 |
| Nov 10, 2023 | vs MIN | W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 14:29 |
| Nov 7, 2023 | @ CAR | L 2-3 (OT) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13:49 |
| Nov 4, 2023 | @ TOR | W 6-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 13:05 |
| Nov 3, 2023 | vs PHI | L 1-5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 14:17 |
| Nov 1, 2023 | @ PHI | W 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14:01 |
| Oct 29, 2023 | vs COL | W 4-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12:03 |
| Oct 27, 2023 | @ NJD | L 4-5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11:11 |
| Oct 24, 2023 | @ OTT | W 6-4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 16:21 |
| Oct 23, 2023 | vs MTL | L 1-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12:09 |
| Oct 21, 2023 | vs NYI | W 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13:05 |
| Oct 19, 2023 | vs CGY | L 3-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11:34 |
| Oct 17, 2023 | vs TBL | W 3-2 (OT) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 09:11 |
| Oct 14, 2023 | @ NYI | L 2-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10:07 |
| Oct 12, 2023 | vs NYR | L 1-5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 08:48 |