Player Discussion Tage Thompson 2

[La Cosa Nostra]

Since 2021 Tage has 12 less goals in 22 fewer games then Reinhart. No bones about it TT is an elite goal scorer

 

[Ygo88]

He doesn’t make his linemates better. He is 1/1 assists to goals, most top line guys are 1.51/1. He sucks defensively and can’t shut down top opposition. He gives the puck away in the nz way too much and further kills transition with his constant dusting and dangling. He lacks vision for anything other than his shot. Ideally he is a winger. I do not think Kulich is C either for the distribution reasons though he is better on draws and defensively. But Kulich’s pluses, i.e. d, puck retrieval positioning can work with a playmaking wing. TT is an independent contractor.

I don't know... has been better than average defensively the last couple of seasons (not sure if anyone has access to the charts...). He ranks in the top ten in even strength points and his primary points rival Crosby, Eichel, Sheifele, Suzuki et al (not going to hold it against him that he scores more). Is he elite, nah, but he probably is a top line center (face offs are obviously the opportunity).

 

[ValJamesDuex]

 

[debaser66]

Is he ok after the hit?

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Tage Out tonight

 

[Chainshot]

Good thing the league protects their stars.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Good thing the league protects their stars.

Not a star. Hasn’t been to the All Star Game yet , and not good enough to go to the World Cup Worse Version

 

[MOGlLNY]

Tage is gonna score 40 with an abysmal power play. He is a 1C. Maybe not a super high end one, but with a proper PP Tage is a 50 goal scorer. And if you want the fancy numbers:

 

[5 Minute Major]

Tage is gonna score 40 with an abysmal power play. He is a 1C. Maybe not a super high end one, but with a proper PP Tage is a 50 goal scorer. And if you want the fancy numbers:
View attachment 993251

He certainly has talent. If he ever added a little ass to his game, ala Andreychuk, he would be unstoppable.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Was Thompson at center today?

 

[Zman5778]

Was Thompson at center today?

Mostly, yes. He took a ton of draws (2nd most behind McLeod who was amazing in the dot today) and mostly played center....usually inbetween Tuch and Greenway.

He did play wing with McLeod for a couple shifts and I think was on Krebs' wing for a couple of half-shifts.

Of note: he was almost exclusively matched up against Eichel.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Mostly, yes. He took a ton of draws (2nd most behind McLeod who was amazing in the dot today) and mostly played center....usually inbetween Tuch and Greenway.

He did play wing with McLeod for a couple shifts and I think was on Krebs' wing for a couple of half-shifts.

Of note: he was almost exclusively matched up against Eichel.

The last part is why it was 3-2 Vegas with 3min left. He totally lost Jack.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Was Thompson at center today?

good site for reference here as well

Buffalo Sabres Line Combinations

Check out the latest Buffalo Sabres lines for tonight. Complete Sabres line combination, game stats, and season stats updated daily.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

 

[Dubi Doo]

I haven't watched in a while, what everybody's opinion where Tage should play going forward? Top-6C or top-6W? Because we're going to need one more top-6 forward added in the offseason. Would people be comfortable going into next season with Tage/Norris/McLeod down the middle?

 

[truthbluth]

I haven't watched in a while, what everybody's opinion where Tage should play going forward? Top-6C or top-6W? Because we're going to need one more top-6 forward added in the offseason. Would people be comfortable going into next season with Tage/Norris/McLeod down the middle?

I think the best case scenario is playing Tage at C with a winger that can take faceoffs when necessary, plays well off the puck and is a great passer. I hear the Panthers have the perfect guy.

 

[Chainshot]

Mostly, yes. He took a ton of draws (2nd most behind McLeod who was amazing in the dot today) and mostly played center....usually inbetween Tuch and Greenway.

He did play wing with McLeod for a couple shifts and I think was on Krebs' wing for a couple of half-shifts.

Of note: he was almost exclusively matched up against Eichel.

At one point, he tried to remove Eichel's head from Jerk's shoulders behind the Sabres' net too. If he'd been about an inch lower, there would be a thread on the mains about how much of a little Rempe he is.

 

[THUNDERBURST]

I haven't watched in a while, what everybody's opinion where Tage should play going forward? Top-6C or top-6W? Because we're going to need one more top-6 forward added in the offseason. Would people be comfortable going into next season with Tage/Norris/McLeod down the middle?

I think he could be a good winger and would prefer to add a top 6 C. I think there's also a bigger risk if we go with the top 6 C's in Thompson and Norris and that risk is their health. If we can't add a top 6 C, then add a good top 6 W.

 

[slip]

My takes on Thompson over the years have been all over the place. But here’s my final verdict: he’s a leader and part of the solution going forward.

 

[Beerz]

My takes on Thompson over the years have been all over the place. But here’s my final verdict: he’s a leader and part of the solution going forward.

My thoughts on Tage were probably worse than my thoughts on Krebs... he came a long way in my eyes especially as a leader. I don't believe we can win with him as a 1C but he definitely can be a solution going forward.