Пресса о Земгусе Гиргенсонсе

Positive vibes for Girgensons in Buffalo.
2 мая 2022 года. BY JOHN WAWROW. The Associated Press

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The airing of grievances and expressions of frustrations which commonly followed each of the Sabres' previous 10 losing seasons were notably absent on Saturday.

At a time Buffalo set an NHL record by missing the playoffs for an 11th straight year, the mood was unmistakably upbeat among players gathering one final time.

"It's definitely a different feeling this year," said former Dubuque Fighting Saints captain Zemgus Girgensons, the Sabres' longest-tenured player after completing his eighth season in Buffalo.

"Usually in the morning you're trying to gather thoughts of all the complaints, the issues that are going on," he added. "This morning, my wife asked me, 'What are you going to say?' And I said, 'I don't have too many complaints.' It's weird."

And refreshing.

A palpable sense of optimism might finally be taking root on a team that showed distinct signs of gelling following a year of upheaval and overhaul.

With a focus on rebuilding through youth and targeting players who wanted to stay in Buffalo, general manager Kevyn Adams' purge began with forward Sam Reinhart and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen being dealt in separate trades last summer. The process was capped in November when Buffalo ended its lengthy stalemate with Jack Eichel by trading the ex-captain to Vegas.

The Sabres (32-39-11) closed the season by going 16-9-3 over the final two months, with the 16 wins in 28 games equaling their total through the first 54. It was a final stretch in which Buffalo went 8-1-3 in games decided by one goal (as compared to 5-7-8 in its first 54) and scored four or more goals 12 times (as compared to 16 times in its first 54).

With much of the roster returning intact, Jeff Skinner believes the foundation of a culture is in place.

"I think there's cause to be excited and be encouraged, but its up to us now to take that next step," Skinner said.

Missing on Saturday were the headline-grabbing comments made during previous exit-meeting interview sessions. There was the time four years ago when Ryan O'Reilly suggested the Sabres had a losing culture. Eichel's frustrations spilled over during each of the previous two offseasons, capped by him questioning his future with the franchise a year ago.

Perhaps, Girgensons said, both the Sabres and the departing players needed to move on.

"Sometimes that is the way it works. Maybe they needed a fresh start and we needed some fresh faces in here," Girgensons said. "I think it worked out this year. All of the guys we got, there's no complaints. I loved every single guy in the room."