Analysis: Five reasons why Tage Thompson’s career has taken off

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Five years ago I didn’t think Tage Thompson was going to be a full-time NHL player. Now the Buffalo Sabres forward is one of the top snipers in the world.

You read that right. I said ‘in the world.’ Thompson has scored 14 goals in 22 games this season, a pace ahead of last year’s 38 in 78. And he’s tied with Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak for fourth overall.

Thompson isn’t just filling the net – he’s making opposing goaltenders look silly. Like this tally Monday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning:

Tage Thompson is the best hockey player on earth pic.twitter.com/cIf52yNFbo

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) November 29, 2022

Sure this is a filthy move. And Lightning goaltender Brian Elliott reached deep into the save selection bag to try and stop Thompson. But none worked. Butterfly? Nope. Pokecheck? Nope. Pad reach? Nope. Thompson used every inch of ice surrounding the crease to get around Elliott.

It’s not just Thompson’s hands that are impressive on this play. It’s his determination and attention to detail. See how he spins off the pile to open ice and intercepts the Lightning pass? Not every player does that with urgency. Thompson does.

The two hard strides he takes getting free of the scrum are just as important to this goal as the danglefest around Elliott. Thompson doesn’t get the puck if he doesn’t work hard first.

It’s a sick goal from a player who, despite first-round draft status, is just now coming into his own at the NHL level. And his teammates know what they are seeing is pretty special.

Take a look at Sabres captain Kyle Okposo when he comes into the pile to celebrate with Thompson and their Buffalo teammates. Okposo is smiling ear-to-ear. Giddy, even. Because Thompson is becoming an NHL superstar, and Okposo gets to witness his teammate’s metamorphosis live at ice level.

So why do I think Thompson’s career has taken off? Here are five reasons.

1. A SWITCH TO CENTER

I had a great conversation with long-time NHL goaltender-turned analyst Martin Biron last week about Thompson. And he was quick to give credit to Sabres head coach Don Granato, who decided to try Thompson at the center ice position.

The switch happened in advance of the 2021-22 season, and the results were glowing. Thompson put up 30 assists along with the aforementioned 38 goals.

Thompson had previously played wing, and it limited the amount of ice he could cover. When Granato moved Thompson to center, it gave him more space to work with.

For someone as big as Thompson – he’s 6-foot-6, 220 lbs – the extra room really helps him use his hands. On the wing, from what I saw, Thompson was much more of a pure shooter. At center, Thompson has creative license. And the clip above is a good example of what he can do when the puck is on his blade.

2. TOP-LINE MINUTES

Rebuilding teams are great places for upcoming talent. Ice time is usually plentiful. But for Thompson, a first-round selection of the St. Louis Blues in the 2016 NHL Draft, it took time to reach the pinnacle of the Sabres lineup.

Part of that is because, up until the middle of the 2020-21 season, it could be argued that the Sabres were still trying to win. Taylor Hall and Sam Reinhart were there. Jack Eichel hadn’t been traded yet. Quality players still populated the top two Sabres lines.

When Buffalo went full rebuild in 2021, Thompson was one of the main benefactors. Although he hadn’t really earned it. Thompson had an OK 2020-21 season with 14 points in 38 games. Thompson’s upward shift in the lineup came more out of necessity than anything.

But he responded exactly how the franchise hoped. Last season’s monster output doesn’t look like a fluke any longer. Thompson deserves to be playing top-line minutes for the Sabres.

3. CHEMISTRY

Interestingly enough, Buffalo’s top line consists of three players drafted by other NHL organizations. But the chemistry between Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Jeff Skinner is undeniable.

Skinner might not be imposing physically, but take a look at the two guys lining up next to him. Tuch is one of the most powerful skaters in the game. Thompson’s wingspan is massive. The line covers a lot of the ice.

Earlier this season, Granato tried Victor Olofsson alongside Thompson. That didn’t last long before the Buffalo bench boss went back to Tuch. And for good reason: When Thompson and Tuch have been on the ice together, Buffalo has scored 76 goals and owned just over 58-percent of scoring chances (per naturalstattrick.com).

I like that, especially with Thompson and Tuch, there was a burning desire to play an expanded role. As a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, Tuch skated primarily on the third line. With Buffalo, he’s receiving top minutes and making good on it.

Sometimes all it takes is the right chemistry. Thompson, Tuch, Skinner – all three are producing at a point-per-game pace. I think Skinner’s craftiness is a great match for the sheer size of Thompson and Tuch. The line has more creativity than a lot of people realize.

4. MATURITY

When I played against Thompson during the 2017-18 AHL season, I came away wholly unimpressed. I was playing for the Texas Stars in Austin and, being just a few hours down the road, we faced Thompson and the San Antonio Rampage often.

Thompson was under contract with St. Louis, and he spent a decent chunk of that season with the Blues. He scored three times in 41 games with the NHL club and quite frankly, was invisible way too often.

That’s not uncommon for a 20-year old player. But at the AHL level, a player with Thompson’s ability and draft status should be dominant. He wasn’t. His body language was bad. And his scoring chances were mostly one-timers on the power play.

Thompson had 18 points in 30 AHL games. Which is strong for most rookies. But my impression from the crease was that he didn’t work hard enough. Thompson seemed aloof on the ice. Like he didn’t want to be there. Or even worse, that Thompson thought he was too good for the AHL.

Maybe I was completely wrong. But that’s what it looked like from my vantage point. And our entire team knew it. Thompson was easy to knock off pucks. Our players wanted to match up against him.

I don’t see that now. I see a determined player that wants the puck in all areas of the ice. At 25 years old, Thompson is coming into his own later than most first rounders. And I don’t think his current success happens without being humbled early in his career.

Thompson stuck with it. He learned how to be a pro. And even though he may not be wearing a letter on his jersey, Thompson is a leader on the ice for the Sabres.

5. A NEW MINDSET

Expectations have always been there for Thompson. He was an early draft pick. And he was traded to Buffalo as part of a deal for Ryan O’Reilly, who went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019. That’s a lot for any player to handle.

Seven games into the 2022-23 season, Thompson had a goal and two assists. Something seemed off. There was a thought process in Sabres circles that maybe Thompson was putting too much pressure on himself after he signed a seven-year, $50 million extension that involved a lot of projection off just one good season.

After the morning skate on Oct. 29, Biron asked Granato just that. “Don said he just had a talk with Tage. To relax and not expect to be in mid-season form seven games in,” Biron recalled. “He scored two goals in the third period of that game (against the Chicago Blackhawks) and assisted on the overtime winner.”

Biron believes it was a turning point for Thompson. Two nights later against the Detroit Red Wings, the Sabres center scored a hat trick and added three assists. Thompson’s six points were a career high. And the second-most ever in a game by a Sabres player.

It wasn’t long ago I thought Thompson’s career as a scorer in the NHL was dead in the water. I thought maybe he’d stick as a third line winger capable of chipping in 20-30 points a year.

Thompson scored 38 goals last year, he’s on pace for more than 40 this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he buries 50.

Thompson has proven me wrong. And good for him.

Even with his draft status, Thompson had to work for his success. It didn’t come easy at the NHL level. And in the long run, I think it will make him a better player.