Player Discussion Tage Thompson 2

[staveNsteel]

I wouldn’t say that Tage has shown himself to be a #1C. He’s nowhere near that level, nor do I think he ever will be. He’s at best a 2C, and that’s assuming this year is not an aberration.

FWIW I hope him and Johnson make me hatred of the ROR trade silly. I mean I’m fine with it this year, but I mean in the future

I don't see why he can't be considered a 1C? He's a big bodied C who can shoot, has a great reach, and is getting better. No he's not a McD, Matthews, MacKinnon level 1C.. but I don't see why he couldn't be in that ROR, Hertl, Hintz type section where he's capable of 55 to 70pts based on the season/linemates, while capable of playing those important minutes as well. Just because Krebs/Mitts have a higher draft pedigree doesn't mean that they will necessarily be better in that role down the line.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

 

[Gras]

Over on Sabrespace whenever he scored a goal it was this:

And sometimes this:

But he's outgrown the giraffe thing. Now when he scores, it's this:

(His middle name is Nathaniel)

Dunleavy calls him TNT on the broadcasts.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

That should've been the joke.
To be fair, it did sound funny in my head

I know. I new that sentence sounded stupid but well

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

I think he has to be in the final year of his contract to be eligible for an extension. I think that's June 30.

Yep. Officially eligible 7/1.

I'd be a bit hesitant to extend him long term with one year of solid production. But if he is on a similar pace early next year, then yeah, give him 6 x 6.

 

[Dingo44]

I don't see why he can't be considered a 1C? He's a big bodied C who can shoot, has a great reach, and is getting better. No he's not a McD, Matthews, MacKinnon level 1C.. but I don't see why he couldn't be in that ROR, Hertl, Hintz type section where he's capable of 55 to 70pts based on the season/linemates, while capable of playing those important minutes as well. Just because Krebs/Mitts have a higher draft pedigree doesn't mean that they will necessarily be better in that role down the line.

Plus Tage is on the #1 power play and has also been penalty killing with Tuch.

 

[Buffaloed]

We'll probably lose all of our Tage content when the upgrade is finished. Something about a new height limit for database tables ...

 

[beerme1]

I wouldn’t say that Tage has shown himself to be a #1C. He’s nowhere near that level, nor do I think he ever will be. He’s at best a 2C, and that’s assuming this year is not an aberration.

FWIW I hope him and Johnson make me hatred of the ROR trade silly. I mean I’m fine with it this year, but I mean in the future

Fair enough but on this team he is clearly a #1C to me. Tage is taking some of the ROR sting away and Johnson should be a bonus. I remeber heaaring Craig Rivet say that Tage would be a 30 goal scorer in this league and laughing at that. No joke man. Tage has arrived.

 

[Intermission]

We'll probably lose all of our Tage content when the upgrade is finished. Something about a new height limit for database tables ...

 

[elchud]

Krebs Thompson Tuch as a legitimate NHL 1st line next season?

If not for the Eichel trade, Thompson's emergence is easily and far-far-and-away the biggest story of the season. And there's no reason he won't continue to develop.

 

[Diaspora]

Krebs Thompson Tuch as a legitimate NHL 1st line next season?

If not for the Eichel trade, Thompson's emergence is easily and far-far-and-away the biggest story of the season. And there's no reason he won't continue to develop.

Unquestionably. Every game, there's at least one sequence when he deftly controls the puck through traffic in the neutral zone, calms the play down and launches the attack. I've never seen a player his size do that.

Just imagine what he could do if he used his size as a weapon and developed a cantankerous disposition?

 

[Chainshot]

Krebs Thompson Tuch as a legitimate NHL 1st line next season?

If not for the Eichel trade, Thompson's emergence is easily and far-far-and-away the biggest story of the season. And there's no reason he won't continue to develop.

The plan seems to be to have Krebs-Cozens together and I can see Quinn joining them for a sort of U20 reunion again. Tuch seems to unlock Skinner's scoring by providing defense and transition. Thompson can work with many, might still work to have them as a trio.

 

[jc17]

Tage at center is going to make you forget Eichel was ever on this team. Franchise #1 center IMO.

Prophetic

 

[Montag DP]

Unquestionably. Every game, there's at least one sequence when he deftly controls the puck through traffic in the neutral zone, calms the play down and launches the attack. I've never seen a player his size do that.

Just imagine what he could do if he used his size as a weapon and developed a cantankerous disposition?

I don't know, but that sounds like a good band name.

 

[TehDoak]

I'm very interested to see what next year brings for TT. He's made alot of us (myself included) eat crow. I would have happily left him unprotected in the expansion draft last year. If he could figure out how to leverage his reach for faceoffs and become vaguely defensively aware and continue his offensive production, he fills in alot of gaps for us roster wise. Obviously the concern is that this year isn't repeatable for him. Time will tell.

 

[Montag DP]

We got Thompson in the ROR trade because guys like Kyrou and Thomas were considered untouchable. Now it's looking like Tage is every bit as good as they are, assuming this year isn't an aberration. One of the guys on the Sabres broadcast referred to him as "found money" the other day. I'd say that's a good description. We all hoped he would be good, but I don't think anyone saw him turning into a legit 1C. Okay, maybe sabremike, but no one else.

 

[Bobby Bottle Service]

Definitely a #1 C. He's fantastic in all areas of the game. He is more than effective at 5-on-5, key member of PP1 and can kill penalties. Incredibly strong on his stick and his shots, both slap and snap, are off the charts.

If there was a knock, it would be faceoffs. But that's it.

His puck movement is another strength. Going from forehand to backhand moves the puck about 15 feet. TT looked foolish with those dangles from the wing position. In the middle those dekes make defenders look silly.

 

[Chainshot]

The other day, one of the Sportsnet guys was laughing, perhaps sardonically, and referred to Tage as Mario-like. When he's on his game, he has those sort of qualities of other big men who are using reach and stick skills rather than their mass to get it done. Eric Daze was another in that vein to set a more attainable bar. Obviously, he's not Lemieux in terms of speed and vision, but the big-man-makes-handles-and-scores thing is very real.

 

[Matt Ress]

Not sure why folks think he'll drop off. He'll have a full year with the same linemates and a ton more confidence than with what he walked into this season...on a better team with better team defense. Sure, maybe he'll get more attention but at the expense of letting Skinner and Tuch do whatever they want?
I mean Skinner just does ugly dangles routinely to draw 3 defenders and opens everything up. All signs point to us just scratching the surface.

 

[elchud]

If he scores 40 this season and not less than 35 next season he is, at minimum, 7.5 million a year to resign.

 

[Bobby Bottle Service]

The other day, one of the Sportsnet guys was laughing, perhaps sardonically, and referred to Tage as Mario-like. When he's on his game, he has those sort of qualities of other big men who are using reach and stick skills rather than their mass to get it done. Eric Daze was another in that vein to set a more attainable bar. Obviously, he's not Lemieux in terms of speed and vision, but the big-man-makes-handles-and-scores thing is very real.

Pretty sure that TT plays with a longer stick that Mario.

Combined with an extra inch of height, Tage has the greatest reach of any C in hockey history.

 

[EichHart]

If he scores 40 this season and not less than 35 next season he is, at minimum, 7.5 million a year to resign.

That's fine we have the cap space. Tage is going no where.

 

[Sabre Dance]

We got Thompson in the ROR trade because guys like Kyrou and Thomas were considered untouchable. Now it's looking like Tage is every bit as good as they are, assuming this year isn't an aberration. One of the guys on the Sabres broadcast referred to him as "found money" the other day. I'd say that's a good description. We all hoped he would be good, but I don't think anyone saw him turning into a legit 1C. Okay, maybe sabremike, but no one else.

I don’t know. The Blue GM said at the press conference the Sabres preferred Tage over others. I’ll never forget that.

 

[elchud]

I don’t know. The Blue GM said at the press conference the Sabres preferred Tage over others. I’ll never forget that.

Great job from the Buffalo GM whoever that was!

 

[Djp]

Not sure why folks think he'll drop off. He'll have a full year with the same linemates and a ton more confidence than with what he walked into this season...on a better team with better team defense. Sure, maybe he'll get more attention but at the expense of letting Skinner and Tuch do whatever they want?
I mean Skinner just does ugly dangles routinely to draw 3 defenders and opens everything up. All signs point to us just scratching the surface.

i want to see another year.

too many examples of career year outlier ( see William Karlsson)

one difference is he is playing on the top line.

i don’t recall what games he moved from Asplund/ Olofsson to skinner.

first 30 games he was 16 pts
since then hes above ppg rate.