Buffalo Signs Girgensons

Just breaking on Twitter, the Buffalo Sabres have reportedly signed 2012 1st round selection Zemgus Girgensons to a 3-year entry level contract. 
The Latvian forward was chosen 14th overall by the Sabres last month in Pittsburgh. Girgensons, a 6'2 and 200 lb power forward, spent last season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL registering 24 goals and 54 points in 49 games. He missed the league's Top Prospect Game with an injury and then was knocked out of the playoffs by a broken jaw. 

Girgensons was expected to join the University of Vermont Catamounts this coming year, a program that would have benefited greatly from having him in their line up.  Vermont has issued this release.

It is expected that should Girgensons not stick with the Sabres out of camp, he will be reassigned to Buffalo's AHL affiliate but there is the unlikely possibility that the WHL's Kelowna Rockets could still factor in next season. Like with Jerry D'Amigo a couple of years ago, having drafted him from outside the CHL gives Buffalo the option of sending him to either the American League or to major junior. 

Dubuque has released this story. 

(Photo: Dubuque Fighting Saints / Jim Naprstek)