Buffalo Sabres sign one of their first-round draft picks, forward Zemgus Girgensons

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Sabres signed forward Zemgus Girgensons, one of their two first-round draft selections, on Friday to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Girgensons, a native of Riga, Latvia, is the highest Latvian ever selected in the draft, and spent the last two seasons in the United States Hockey League.

He was alternate captain for Team Latvia at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he scored two goals in six games.

The Sabres won 39 games last season, and finished with 89 points. They did not make the post-season.