By Michael Pachla
Zemgus Girgensons just completed his first NHL season last month as a 20 yr. old rookie for the Buffalo Sabres.
The Riga, Latvia native may not have a stat-line (or advanced stat-line) that jumps out at you, but the coaching staff and management in Buffalo have taken notice of his progress throughout the season.
Girgensons looks to be a cornerstone of the Sabres moving forward because of toughness, competitive nature and skill. Although not much emotion was shown by "Gus" in his first NHL season with Buffalo, he was a pretty tough competitor.
The Latvian national team coached by Sabres bench boss Ted Nolan had tasted some success at the Olympics this year and they've been having a real good run at the Worlds this month. They have three wins under their belts including a
6-5 win over the USA three days ago.
They're tasting even more success right now
in Minsk, Belarus and have a heightened expectations because of it.
Conversely, when things aren't going well, those heightened expectations can turn sour, as it did in the 2nd period of Saturday nights game vs. the Russians.
With the Russians up 4-1, Girgensons lost a faceoff in the offensive zone to Alexander Burmistrov and let his frustrations be known via a Milan Lucic-type spear to the Russian's groin:
(video from HockeyWebCaster)
The former Atlanta Thrashers first round pick (2010, #8 overall) and KHL player lay sprawled on the ice in obvious pain.
Gus, for his part, seems ticked he got caught and looks as if he's ready to take on any Ruskie willing to drop the gloves.
The IIHF didn't take kindly to the penalty and suspended Girgensons for one game.
For fans in Buffalo who've been watching "the core" for a number of years, this is exactly the type of attitude that's been missing.
Whether or not you consider this dirty (*shrugs*, maybe just at tad,) Girgensons looks like a player who hates to lose.
Unfortunately for Latvia, Gus is on the bench for a crucial game that could determine a place in the top-four and a spot in the quarter finals. But in Sabreland, that kind of fire might be just what the doctor ordered for a rebuilding Buffalo Sabres franchise.
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