Massive Addition: Lightning Confirm Agreement To Sign Top Experienced Forward

The Lightning have signed forward Zemgus Girgensons to a three-year contract worth $2.55 million ($850K a season), according to a press release. It marks Girgensons’ first NHL appearance away from Buffalo, where he spent the first ten seasons and 688 games of his career.

Girgensons, 30, will help refill some of the forward depth the Lightning lost today, and at a very cheap cost. The 6’2″ Latvian is expected to play on the wing with Luke Glendening and Jesse Ylönen, one of Tampa’s recent UFA signings.

In his earlier days, he was a solid middle-six checking forward with center versatility, but he has fallen to fourth-line position in Buffalo over the last two years. In 2023-24, he had eight goals and 14 points in 63 games, his first season without surpassing the 10-goal mark since 2018-19. With players like Mitchell Chaffee, Michael Eyssimont, and Conor Sheary offering more offensive potential, his 11:51 average time on ice is likely to be a career low.

Girgensons will now remain in Tampa through the 2026-27 season in his depth role, and could be buried in the minors without penalty if he declines past the point of being an NHL regular.