While I haven't been swayed by Tage's high cheek bones, I don't necessarily disagree with the above.
For me, if you compare Tage to Mitts during the preseason, it's apparent Tage did something during the off-season to improve his lot. I only caught one Tage toe-drag. I didn't see him being moved off the puck as much like what happened routinely last season. I think his read of the play, while maybe not enhanced, seemed a little different.
I'm not saying I think he is ready for the second line, but after these pre-season games I would be okay with giving him a look for a few real NHL games on the third line to start the season, at the very least to assess how far he still needs to go.
We don't have our good third second-liner yet (he says "yet" with feigned optimism) to force the lines to assemble in a more solid fashion, so I really don't see how it could hurt anything.