Zemgus Girgensons Zemgus Girgensons ( born January 5 , 1994 ) is a Latvian ice hockey player currently playing for the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL . Girgensons was selected 14th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Sabres . With this selection Girgensons became the highest drafted Latvian in NHL history , 16 spots higher than previous highest selection Sandis Ozoliņš in 1991 . In the previous year Girgensons was selected in the 2nd round ( 28th overall ) in the 2011 KHL Junior Draft by the CSKA . Playing career . Girgensons began playing hockey in EVHS hockey school and was coached by former Dinamo Rīga player Edmunds Vasiļjevs . He played in Latvian minor and youth leagues . Junior career . In 2009 Girgensons moved to North America and played in the EJHL for the Green Mountain Glades . The next season Girgensons moved to the USHL and played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints . In 2011 he became the USHL champion with the Dubuque Fighting Saints , and he also participated in the All - Star game . In the 2011 – 12 season , his last as a junior , Girgensons was named as the captain of the Fighting Saints . Professional career . Girgensons entered his draft eligibility year as a projected first round draft pick . He was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round , 14th overall . The Sabres had already used their first round pick selecting Mikhail Grigorenko with the 12th pick , but traded a first round ( 21st overall ) pick ( from Nashville ) , which Calgary used to select Mark Jankowski , and 2nd round ( 42nd overall ) pick to move up seven spots to draft Girgensons . Before going in to the Sabres prospects summer camp , Girgensons had committed to going to the Vermont Catamounts of the NCAA ; however , he signed a professional contract with the Sabres on July 13 , 2012 , which forfeits his NCAA eligibility . Girgensons began the 2012 – 13 season in the AHL with the Rochester Americans . He had a slow start to the season and at the beginning of 2013 , he suffered an injury from a late hit by Richard Pánik . However , he did finish strong , scoring three goals in the Americans first round defeat in the AHL playoffs . After scoring 3 goals and adding one assist in five pre - season games , Girgensons began the 2013 – 14 season in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres . He scored his first NHL goal in Sabres ' season opener against Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings October 2 , 2013 . International play . Girgensons participated at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships as a member of the Latvia men ' s national junior ice hockey team and at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships . He made his national team debut in 2013 World Championships against US and scored his first international goal against Slovakia . He also was suspended for one game for spearing Branislav Mezei in first period of the match in retaliation of a hit . On January 7 , 2014 it was announced that Ted Nolan had included Girgensons on his national team roster for Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics . Girgensons scored his first Olympic goal in game 3 versus Sweden , scoring a power - play goal against Henrik Lundqvist . Personal life . Girgensons comes from a hockey family . His father Aldis Girgensons played as a defenseman for Dinamo Riga .