Kivlenieks and Girgensons extend contracts with existing NHL clubs / Article / LSM.lv

Latvian goalkeeper Matīss Kivlenieks extended his contract with Columbus “Blue Jackets” for two years, the National Hockey League (NHL) club informed on Thursday. The striker Zemgus Girgensons, on the other hand, signed a new three-year contract with Buffalo “Sabers”, which he also represented before, the broadcaster TSN reported.

(supplemented by Zemgus Girgenson’s contract)
In October, the Blue Jackets presented 24-year-old Kivleniek with a new contract qualification offer, which the hockey player was quick to accept. The agreement is two-way, which means that the Kivlenieki club can be involved in both NHL and farm club games in the American Hockey League (AHL).

???? Two more years for Kivi!! ????

The 24-year-old Latvian goaltender has agreed to a two-year/two-way extension.https://t.co/PWX2I9UK63

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 8, 2020

Kivlenieks signed the first contract with “Blue Jackets” in May 2017 for three seasons. He was playing in the US Hockey League (USHL) Junior Championship at the time, but the NHL made his debut only last season, helping the Blue Jackets win over the New York Rangers on January 19th. Kivlenieks spent most of the season at the AHL Farm Club in Cleveland’s Monsters.

In the 2019/2020 season, Kivlenieks conceded an average of 2.95 discs in six NHL games and captured 89.8% of the shots. In Cleveland’s Monsters, he conceded an average of 2.96 reels in 20 games and rebounded 90.4%.

Girgenson, meanwhile, will receive $ 6.6 million for the next three seasons at the Buffalo Club, said TSN hockey reviewer Darren Dregers.

Zemgus Girgensons contract with the Sabres is 3 years with a $2.2 million aav.

– Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) October 9, 2020

Girgenson spent all seven of his NHL seasons at Buffalo. Last season was his third most productive NHL career, with 12 goals in 69 games. However, Girgenson’s most important skills are considered to be excellent performance, with the team playing in a numerical minority.

The signing of a new contract with Sabers was later approved by an agency representing the interests of 26-year-old Girgenson.

Zemgus Girgensons has signed a 3-year extension with the @BuffaloSabres ! Congrats @ zemgus94 ! pic.twitter.com/ZPwmSlaej5

— Quartexx Management (@quartexxmgmt) October 9, 2020

“Blue Jackets” also has the goalkeeper of the Latvian national team Elvis Merzļikins, whose club was selected in the third round of the 2014 draft with the number 76. Merzlikin, who signed a two-year contract with the Columbus Club last year, successfully made his debut in the NHL last season.

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