Player Discussion Tage Thompson 1

[Tatanka]

He had a half season last year in the NHL and a half this year with the same production. He is a bottom 6 player. He has not developed any awareness that his game needs to be simpler and more physical. He didn’t add any muscle over the last off season. What exactly are we waiting on? He has interesting tools but no more interesting than Nylander Oloffson. He is the same player he was leaving UConn. He thinks he is Mario when he needs to be more like Shanahan. Grittier, simpler, more physical. I don’t think he wants to be that type of player and will continue to believe he is top line caliber on skill alone when he is not.

 

[Gordo21]

The definition of meh
ERod
Sobotka
Pominville
Okposo
Smith
Wilson

Average players can't make the moves I have seen Thompson make. Above average players cant. He was our best player in preseason yes it was preseason but if he can put it together he scores 30 in this league.

Maybe people should watch some highlights. Average players in the league for 10 years don't have moves Thompson made.

This

Certainly Erod, Okposo and Sobotka anyway.

 

[Gordo21]

He had a half season last year in the NHL and a half this year with the same production. He is a bottom 6 player. He has not developed any awareness that his game needs to be simpler and more physical. He didn’t add any muscle over the last off season. What exactly are we waiting on? He has interesting tools but no more interesting than Nylander Oloffson. He is the same player he was leaving UConn. He thinks he is Mario when he needs to be more like Shanahan. Grittier, simpler, more physical. I don’t think he wants to be that type of player and will continue to believe he is top line caliber on skill alone when he is not.

Who has Thompson played with again?

The fact that you've cast judgment on this 21 year old already based on what I've seen, is ludicrous

 

[OkimLom]

For me, outside of Skinner and, perhaps Eichel, Thompson has been the biggest positive surprise on the team. Dahlin being the biggest disappointment - yet all I hear is people raving about the guy. He must have been awesome in the two games I missed because he has been a hot mess in the games I've seen. He sees the ice terribly and don't get me started on his defensive instincts. His decisions with the puck and his horrible gap control are not getting better.

I expected little from Thompson and, frankly, think has been one of the most interesting surprises. His amazing shot is becoming a little bit predictable imho. He needs to develop a few more ways to put the puck in the net. For a huge guy he has very good hands. Maybe he can use that wing span in the slot in an Andreychuck-esque way.

Re: Dahlin

You may need to re-assess what you know of quality hockey play and what you are seeing and remember he’s 18. Now mind you, Dahlin has been played games where he was bad, especially within the past 30 days, but he’s far from what you describe. People also rave. About him because of the plays he makes at his age against the level of play in the NHL. 18 year old defenseman should be looked at in a different lense than 18 year old forwards.

Re: Thompson

He was an absolute mess in the beginning of the year. A guy who looked lost and was showing a trajectory of someone who should be in the ECHL more than NHL or AHL. Then smartly benched him to watch the game from the press box. Since then, he has improved his play to a level of a solid prospect. He still has growth that needs to happen to be play at a top 6 level but he’s shown flashes. At the moment he’s showing he’s trying to score goals, but to play in he league, you need to show the option that you can read the ice and make the right decision. He’s been struggling in that aspect.

 

[Gordo21]

No doubt Thompson has areas that need improvement. But I have also seen the improvement in his game, and see him as a quality prospect moving forward.

And prospect is very understated quite frankly

 

[Icicle]

Thompson has gone from deking every time he has the puck and losing it 80% of the time to deking it 50% of the time and not giving it up anymore. His progression has been great and he’s yet to play on an actually good line that can feed him properly for his incredibly dangerous shot.

If your down on Thompson you haven’t been paying close enough attention lately. Yeah, he had a rough start, but he’s coming along great.

 

[Tatanka]

Who has Thompson played with again?

The fact that you've cast judgment on this 21 year old already based on what I've seen, is ludicrous

I have followed him since he was at UConn. Still waiting for transition from big fish small pond to do what it takes be a power forward versus a dangler in the NHL. YMMV.

 

[Beerz]

I could be remembering wrong, but I don't think Kotalik had anywhere near Thompsons hands... outside of the shootout maybe. Not to mention Thompson's biggest asset could end up being his size/reach.

The definition of meh
ERod
Sobotka
Pominville
Okposo
Smith
Wilson

Average players can't make the moves I have seen Thompson make. Above average players cant. He was our best player in preseason yes it was preseason but if he can put it together he scores 30 in this league.

Maybe people should watch some highlights. Average players in the league for 10 years don't have moves Thompson made.

Oh really? ... Linus Omark says hi.

Most on your list aren't "meh" .. they're bad.

 

[Gordo21]

I have followed him since he was at UConn. Still waiting for transition from big fish small pond to do what it takes be a power forward versus a dangler in the NHL. YMMV.

Every player goes through a transition to the NHL He's 21.

I've noticed a difference in Reinhart this year. He's not the ssme player he was at 21.

I absolutely see a top six player in him. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Still, I wouldn't move him for anything at this point.

Completely counterproductive.

 

[Beerz]

Every player goes through a transition to the NHL He's 21.

I've noticed a difference in Reinhart this year. He's not the ssme player he was at 21.

I absolutely see a top six player. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

But I wouldn't move him for anything at this point.

Completely counterproductive.

Reinhart has a toolbox ... Thompson doesn't.

 

[Aladyyn]

I could be remembering wrong, but I don't think Kotalik had anywhere near Thompsons hands... outside of the shootout maybe. Not to mention Thompson's biggest asset could end up being his size/reach.

Talk about a red flag...

 

[Icicle]

Reinhart has a toolbox ... Thompson doesn't.

What? He has an elite shot, great reach, and good hands. He lacks confidence using his body and an extra gear, as well as overconfidence in his hands that he’s worked greatly on.

That’s s great pro/con for a player to work with.

 

[Beerz]

What? He has an elite shot, great reach, and good hands. He lacks confidence using his body and an extra gear, as well as overconfidence in his hands that he’s worked greatly on.

That’s s great pro/con for a player to work with.

those are tools...not a toolbox

 

[Icicle]

Talk about a red flag...

It’s a common scouting trap, but by no means does Thompson only succeed because of size that won’t hrlp him in the NHL. It still helps him in the NHL. His problem has been trying to play too small, not too big.

 

[Icicle]

those are tools...not a toolbox

Pardon me I forgot the last time Reinhart had a breakaway and sniped a goal. Was it in Juniors?

 

[Beerz]

Pardon me I forgot the last time Reinhart had a breakaway and sniped a goal. Was it in Juniors?

yeah... you're not following

 

[Gordo21]

Reinhart has a toolbox ... Thompson doesn't.

We need to agree to disagree. It's becoming tiring

 

[Gordo21]

Pardon me I forgot the last time Reinhart had a breakaway and sniped a goal. Was it in Juniors?

Exactly

 

[Gordo21]

Frankly Reinhart and Thompson are different players. Apples and oranges .

As I've already said, I'd like to see them paired up.

But God only knows why Reinhart's glued to Eichel and Skinner.

Maybe it's so we can berate our other forwards?

Smh

 

[Team Cozens]

I have followed him since he was at UConn. Still waiting for transition from big fish small pond to do what it takes be a power forward versus a dangler in the NHL. YMMV.

I’d love to send Tage, Mitts and Dahlin to Camp Risto this summer!

 

[davej0122]

The reason I like Thompson and KNOW he's a keeper is that he comes with skills you can't teach. Great hands, shot playmaking potential

His deficiencies, the way I see it, can all be improved upon. General speed and energy need to be upped a notch and can be if he works on the right things

He's young. He's a keeper. I would have him glued to Reinhart personally, but for some reason Sabres seem intent on being a one line team.

Bizarre really

His conditioning is very concerning. Seems like the first 20-25 seconds of a shift he seems like capable NHL skater, then after that it's like he looses all energy.

He backchecks often seems like he is out of energy, and as soon as we transition back into the offensive zone it's like he is completely rejuvenated. Reminds of me of early Eichel days.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I have followed him since he was at UConn. Still waiting for transition from big fish small pond to do what it takes be a power forward versus a dangler in the NHL. YMMV.

How have you followed him for more than five minutes, or even read a scouting report, and think he will be (or is trying to be) a power forward? That might be your problem.

 

[sabrebuild]

Oh really? ... Linus Omark says hi.

Most on your list aren't "meh" .. they're bad.

Just catching up on this, but good work trying to deal with people who can’t follow their own arguments, yeesh.

And for whoever had this above average guys can’t pull the moves Thompson has, umm what. Watch some league highlights. Literally every game some nobody will dangle the life out of an all star. It happens all the time.

Tage will hopefully get his pace up, both feet and head. But ppl get so lost by a sick highlight, that they forget Tage is on pace for like 10 goals. Pretty or ugly they all count the same.

I’ll get excited when I see him start generating chances regularly in the hard areas.

 

[Dreakon13]

Talk about a red flag...

...?

Some of his best moments so far have come from offensive opportunities generated by using his reach to break up plays. I guess I'm missing the part where using that to his advantage is some sort of negative, or a "red flag" of anything. Leave it to HF to figure out how to spin it though.

 

[Tatanka]

How have you followed him for more than five minutes, or even read a scouting report, and think he will be (or is trying to be) a power forward? That might be your problem.

Every scouting report projected him as a power forward. Why? Because isn’t f***ing good enough to be a top line dangler. He is too slow to be a center and his hands are overrated here. He needs to go to the net and he prefers to play on the perimeter. If henis not trying to be a power forward then get what you can for hom before the league figures out henis an AHL superstore whomisntoo soft fornthe NHL.