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Montreal Canadiens: Five Free Agent Centres The Habs Could Target

By Ken MacMillan

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 05: Mikko Koivu #9. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 05: Mikko Koivu #9. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Buffalo’s Zemgus Girgensons. / AFP / Geoff Robins (Photo credit should read GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images)
Buffalo’s Zemgus Girgensons. / AFP / Geoff Robins (Photo credit should read GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images) /

5. Zemgus Girgensons

Hopes were high in Buffalo following the 2012 NHL Draft. The Sabres had a pair of picks in the middle of the first round, and were looking to bounce back after dropping from 100 to 96 to 89 points in the NHL standings over the previous three years.

They selected Mikhail Grigorenko and Zemgus Girgensons and have not been back to the playoffs since.

Girgensons was a high scoring, huge centre playing USHL for the Dubuque Fighting Saints when the Sabres called his name in the first round. He played the following year in the AHL for the Rochester Americans where he scored just six goals and 17 points in 61 games. Still, the Sabres were desperate so that was good enough to prove he was NHL ready as a 19 year old the following year.

The 6’2″ Latvian centre would show some promise scoring 22 points in 70 games and then 30 points in 61 games in his sophomore season. He seemed to be trending in the right direction, but hasn’t even reached the 20 point plateau in the past five seasons.

Though Girgensons offence hasn’t taken off, he does play a solid, reliable defensive style and brings plenty of size to the table. He would have reached the 500 game mark this season if not for the league hitting the pause button, but he is just 26 years old. He did score 12 goals while mostly playing a third line role with Johan Larsson and Kyle Okposo this season.

He wouldn’t be looking for much of a raise on his $1.6 million contract and could find a nice two-way role as a bottom six centre if a couple of the Habs current young centres need a little more time in the AHL.

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