Player Discussion Tage Thompson 2

[sabremike]

It's like finding a group of people stranded on an island and realizing that they've been reduced to worshiping an empty coke bottle.

After touching the holy garment my employer called us back to our jobs. TAGE IS NOT A FALSE GOD, HAIL OUR MAGIC GIRAFFE DEITY!!!!!!

 

[joshjull]

How tf do you find these gifs?

Obviously just type Tage Thompson into the search

 

[Old Navy Goat]

I think he can be as well, but I’m starting to worry that he may never be very good at 5v5 almost because he’s too big. His game is played with skill a lot more than using his size etc...(like a pat maroon) and I don’t think he will be able to make plays in small areas etc.... if he continues to do things the same way, he almost needs to adopt a pat Martin esque style of play down low(tho that requires him actually putting on muscle) then of course he could be a trigger man on a PP due to his ridiculously nasty release and 1-T tho it might be better to have him net front on the eichel unit

He changed his diet and workout last off-season, said he packed on over 10lbs of muscle. Hopefully the long layoff allows him to add some more once he's fully recovered from the surgery

 

[joshjull]

Cozens was reported to have done a lot of leg work as he recovered from his wrist injury last offseason. it’s been one of things credited for his strong season.

If Tage does something similar with the enormous amount of recovery time he’s had. It could give him the leg strength and strong base he’s badly needed for that lanky frame.

 

[jc17]

I think he can be as well, but I’m starting to worry that he may never be very good at 5v5 almost because he’s too big. His game is played with skill a lot more than using his size etc...(like a pat maroon) and I don’t think he will be able to make plays in small areas etc.... if he continues to do things the same way, he almost needs to adopt a pat Martin esque style of play down low(tho that requires him actually putting on muscle) then of course he could be a trigger man on a PP due to his ridiculously nasty release and 1-T tho it might be better to have him net front on the eichel unit

I think his biggest 5v5 issues are down low, like you said, and also getting out of the dzone

But his ability to disrupt on the forecheck and decent puck control is what makes me hopefull. Its been a while since I watched him so I don't have a super clear mental picture but i dont remember him having a poor IQ either, not consistently at least. Like Sabres fans will complain about guys like risto and sobotka for poor decisions or being lost. In that category I don't remember tage being perfect but also not like his IQ was a hard limiter on his ability. I don't know, maybe someone else remembers better

 

[OkimLom]

I think his biggest 5v5 issues are down low, like you said, and also getting out of the dzone

But his ability to disrupt on the forecheck and decent puck control is what makes me hopefull. Its been a while since I watched him so I don't have a super clear mental picture but i dont remember him having a poor IQ either, not consistently at least. Like Sabres fans will complain about guys like risto and sobotka for poor decisions or being lost. In that category I don't remember tage being perfect but also not like his IQ was a hard limiter on his ability. I don't know, maybe someone else remembers better

His IQ wasn't terrible, but his decision making was very slow, much like Sobotka and Risto actually. It's not that they didn't know WHAT they needed to do, or WHERE to be, but they couldn't get themselves to determine WHEN they needed to move the puck or when to be in a spot on the ice. Like with Tage, there were many instance at the NHL level where he got the puck, off ice nice poke check, and he failed to transition the puck into an open area where his teammate was heading or even was.

 

[sabremike]

It's like finding a group of people stranded on an island and realizing that they've been reduced to worshiping an empty coke bottle.

 

[TehDoak]

Toronto Zoo asking for help naming baby giraffe

 

[Bendium]

I definitely think that from an attitude and mental make up standpoint, Tage has a MUCH better chance of achieving the growth in his game needed to become a solid NHL forward. When he got here it was clear he had both elite size and above average shot, but he still was new to his body, like that baby giraffe. Every game I saw him making mistakes that looked more like he just didn't know how to deal with his own size yet. That's why I was a proponent very quickly of him going to the AHL where he could figure that out without being under the ROR storm pressure. I think he has progressed nicely and will be a good surprise for the Sabres this season. I have no such hope for Casey Mittelstadt, but I am still open to him proving me wrong.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I definitely think that from an attitude and mental make up standpoint, Tage has a MUCH better chance of achieving the growth in his game needed to become a solid NHL forward. When he got here it was clear he had both elite size and above average shot, but he still was new to his body, like that baby giraffe. Every game I saw him making mistakes that looked more like he just didn't know how to deal with his own size yet. That's why I was a proponent very quickly of him going to the AHL where he could figure that out without being under the ROR storm pressure. I think he has progressed nicely and will be a good surprise for the Sabres this season. I have no such hope for Casey Mittelstadt, but I am still open to him proving me wrong.

I think I agree with your observation thats his mental makeup and public attitude are something to be encouraged by.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

We can’t even call him Giraffe Thompson because “Tage” already sounds like a nickname.

 

[TehDoak]

We can’t even call him Giraffe Thompson because “Tage” already sounds like a nickname.

Can we call the penalty box the Tage Rage Cage?

 

[Der Jaeger]

He changed his diet and workout last off-season, said he packed on over 10lbs of muscle. Hopefully the long layoff allows him to add some more once he's fully recovered from the surgery

That's what happens when you stop eating green leaves and start eating rainbows. And there's the added bonus of more skittles to go around.

Toronto Zoo asking for help naming baby giraffe

Dilemma..... am I required to hate the giraffes in the Toronto Zoo?

 

[flashsabre]

Tage’s injury was so disappointing. He was really growing in Rochester, dominating at points. I’m pulling for him since he was put in a bad spot because of the ROR trade.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Can we call the penalty box the Tage Rage Cage?

Only if he shakes the glass like they’re WWE ropes

 

[Dirty Dog]

Dilemma..... am I required to hate the giraffes in the Toronto Zoo?

sadly, yes.

 

[Member 308457]

So the guy's tall and thin. Hardy har har. Do we have to make fun of his slight build and ruin the kid's remaining confidence by continuing to call him a giraffe? I know we're all depressed and looking for a laugh but is sacrificing this kid who has still has potential worth it?

It's not that funny and frankly I hope it works out for Tage Thompson in Buffalo.

 

[sabremike]

So the guy's tall and thin. Hardy har har. Do we have to make fun of his slight build and ruin the kid's remaining confidence by continuing to call him a giraffe? I know we're all depressed and looking for a laugh but is sacrificing this kid who has still has potential worth it?

It's not that funny and frankly I hope it works out for Tage Thompson in Buffalo.

Me right now:

 

[Member 308457]

Don't mean to rain on your "parade" but I remember how Peter McNab wanted out of Bflo, because of the fans. Buffalo was forced to trade a perennial 40 goal scorer. Not saying that Thompson's a McNab but he has shown flashes.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Tage the handsome human-proportioned magical giraffe. There, now his confidence is better.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

So the guy's tall and thin. Hardy har har. Do we have to make fun of his slight build and ruin the kid's remaining confidence by continuing to call him a giraffe? I know we're all depressed and looking for a laugh but is sacrificing this kid who has still has potential worth it?

It's not that funny and frankly I hope it works out for Tage Thompson in Buffalo.

Giraffe > Tiny.

If he becomes Simmonds 2.0 (the good version) I’ll be ecstatic.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Good to see he’s been doing charity work with the layoff

 

[HaNotsri]

How could Tage be offended by being compared to the most samurai of all species?

 

[Jake Bielecki]

Thompson needs to be on the roster day 1. Not understanding the entire conversation around him tbh.

 

[OkimLom]

Thompson needs to be on the roster day 1. Not understanding the entire conversation around him tbh.

let’s see how he has recovered from his injuries first, and let’s hope his processing speed has improved.

even as his recovery timeline has come and gone 5-6 months, that type of recovery is important to be careful with.