Is Tage Thompson good enough?

[dudacek]

And by good enough, I mean “good enough to be the best forward on a cup-winning team".

Over the past four years, only McKinnon, Pastrnak, Matthews and Kucherov have scored more ES goals.

Among a very talented group of forwards, he’s the only one who legitimately scares opposing coaches with his ability to make checkers and goalies look silly. He has never been given a chance to play with one elite linemate, let alone two.

His defence is inconsistent — generally lacklustre overall — but good enough that Ruff doesn’t hide him, and trusts him to defend late leads. He tried to play a more physical game last year and quietly set career highs in hits and blocked shots.

He needs to find a way to be more effective on the power play. After scoring 20 in one season, he’s added just 22 the next three years combined.

I find it curious that everyone seems to take for granted he’ll be a winger this year, despite his history and the uncertainty of the team’s other options in the middle. Not sure it really matters though.

He’s always taken full responsibility for his own play and showed a ton of resiliency. Still, I wonder how the Alex Tuch departure affects him mentally.

It seems to me the big guy’s impact as an elite gamebreaking goal scorer is taken for granted a bit in the Sabrehood. An injury or step back would be devastating to this team. 

The Sabres aren't going to win a Cup without guys around Thompson; he's not that good.

But can they do it with him as their lead dog up-front?

Edited August 23 by dudacek

[Big Guava]

I mean Carolina's best forward is probably Aho?

Is he significantly better than Thompson? I'm going to say not really, if at all.

[dudacek]

51 minutes ago, Big Guava said:

I mean Carolina's best forward is probably Aho?

Is he significantly better than Thompson? I'm going to say not really, if at all.

Sebastian Aho was the top forward on a cup-winner. So were Ryan O'Reilly, Anze Kopitar, Eric Staal, Patrick Elias, a 36-year-old Teemu Selanne, and a 57-point Patrice Bergeron.

And the Sabres are not counting on Thompson to be their best player, only their best forward. Dahlin is their franchise player.

So my answer is "yes".

But it sure would help a lot if another forward emerged from the pack to reach star level.

Edited August 23 by dudacek

[Weave]

I don’t know if “good enough” is the issue.  I think Thompson is sort of like Matthews.  His game is kind of selfish, for lack of a better word.  If there was another player, even on another line, as dynamic as Thompson but makes the 5 guys on the ice better as well, there would be no need to question whether we are OK with Tage.

but alas, here we are.

[Big Guava]

9 minutes ago, Weave said:

I don’t know if “good enough” is the issue.  I think Thompson is sort of like Matthews.  His game is kind of selfish, for lack of a better word.  If there was another player, even on another line, as dynamic as Thompson but makes the 5 guys on the ice better as well, there would be no need to question whether we are OK with Tage.

but alas, here we are.

You mean, except when we actually need it to be on a 2 on 1 in OT in game 7 against the Habs when he tried to pass to Benson instead of ripping a shot.

[SABRES 0311]

I said no in terms of best player. He would be a huge part of a cup winner though.

[TageMVP]

YES 

[Pimlach]

 

He is “good enough” but needs a “good enough” complimentary player on his line.   
 

 

[Weave]

2 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

 

He is “good enough” but needs a “good enough” complimentary player on his line.   
 

 

My concern is, what does his complimentary player look like?

He wants the puck on his stick all the time, so a classic set up guy won’t have the puck enough to do that job.

A sniper is going to compete with Tage for shots, so that’s not complimentary.

An along the boards guy is probably most complimentary.  We had one of those with Tuch.  Was he good enough when Tuch was here?  🤷‍♂️ Kinda?  Maybe?

I don’t really know the answer.

[Taro T]

15 minutes ago, Weave said:

My concern is, what does his complimentary player look like?

He wants the puck on his stick all the time, so a classic set up guy won’t have the puck enough to do that job.

A sniper is going to compete with Tage for shots, so that’s not complimentary.

An along the boards guy is probably most complimentary.  We had one of those with Tuch.  Was he good enough when Tuch was here?  🤷‍♂️ Kinda?  Maybe?

I don’t really know the answer.

Agree that he needs a guy good on the boards with him.  Benson fits that perfectly.  Still would like to see Östlund between those 2.  His skillset should work with both AND he and Benny together can cover for Thompson's limitations in his own end.  (And yeah, expect Kulich gets the 1st chance there and Norris (if he's healthy) gets the 2nd shot.  But Östlund is a driver that doesn't NEED to be a finisher.)  Helenius could be fun in that spot too, but not sure that only having 1 puck on the ice is enough for all of Benny, the Hellemoose, and Tage.

[Night Train]

Crazy

We've given away top players forever. We should be done doing that.

 

YES

 

[Doohickie]

No, but we have the Hell Moose ready to eclipse Tage.

[pi2000]

Physically he's gifted enough, however his hockey IQ is lacking for somebody who is supposed to be your best forward.

[thewookie1]

Yes but he’ll never be Mackinnon or McDavid. He’s going to need other talented players around him that can cover up his weaknesses. That being said he did show in the playoffs that while his defensive ply still leaves much to be desired; he isn’t a purely 1 trick pony and can score in a number of ways.

[TageMVP]

2 hours ago, pi2000 said:

Physically he's gifted enough, however his hockey IQ is lacking for somebody who is supposed to be your best forward.

Hes a goal scorer let him do what he does best. Guy knows his role and isn't afraid to shoot and might be the best at those mini toe drags to set up a prime scoring chance when a defenseman gives him zero room 

Get Robert Thomas and put him on Thompsons line and the "Hockey IQ" conversation (which makes no sense, at least to me) will go away 

[TageMVP]

2 hours ago, Doohickie said:

No, but we have the Hell Moose ready to eclipse Tage.

I'd eye roll this 1000 times if I could 

[JohnC]

4 hours ago, Pimlach said:

 

He is “good enough” but needs a “good enough” complimentary player on his line.   
 

 

Benson or Doan or Kulich or Norris or Helenius should be under consideration on a line with Tuch as either a center or winger. A bevy of good options.

[mjd1001]

Yes.

He is better than people give him credit for defensively. Sure he make some plays when defending that aren't good, but he also prevents a lot of stuff that never gets noticed because of his size and he clogs up passing/skating lanes.

But offensively he is an elite scorer. Not only is he an elite scorer, he is near elite at generating his own chance. Meaning put him with your best winger, or put him with Krebs, and he is still getting his goals.

A very valuable forward.  Over 400 forwards played 40 games ore more last year. Tage and his impact on the Sabres can be slotted/ranked in that 10th-20th best to me...just considering his scoring he's higher than that even.

6 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Benson or Doan or Kulich or Norris or Helenius should be under consideration on a line with Tuch as either a center or winger. A bevy of good options.

I'm guessing you mean "tage" not "tuch"?  Honestly just wanting to be sure you weren't talking about something last year. As far as typos...no problem as I make plenty of them myself.

Edited August 23 by mjd1001

[SwampD]

3 hours ago, pi2000 said:

Physically he's gifted enough, however his hockey IQ is lacking for somebody who is supposed to be your best forward.

It’s frustrating to watch sometimes, how many plays he leaves on the ice.

[pi2000]

1 hour ago, TageMVP said:

Hes a goal scorer let him do what he does best. Guy knows his role and isn't afraid to shoot and might be the best at those mini toe drags to set up a prime scoring chance when a defenseman gives him zero room 

Get Robert Thomas and put him on Thompsons line and the "Hockey IQ" conversation (which makes no sense, at least to me) will go away 

The question was to the affect can this team win a Cup with Tage as their best forward.

I'm not sure...  he's makes some low IQ plays and doesn't seem to anticipate or see the ice that well.    He's a shooter and he's great at it obviously, but I'm not sure they can win a championship with his as their best all around forward.

[pi2000]

16 minutes ago, SwampD said:

It’s frustrating to watch sometimes, how many plays he leaves on the ice.

It was very noticeable at the Olympics where he seemed a step or two behind most of time receiving limited ice time, seemed most of his ice time was on the PP.   

His game at even strength isn't very good.... he scored 40g and yet was a -6.  On a team that had a +47 goal differential, that's quite poor.

[pi2000]

37 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Benson or Doan or Kulich or Norris or Helenius should be under consideration on a line with Tuch as either a center or winger. A bevy of good options.

IMO, it's highly unlikely any of those forwards spend any amount of time on line with Tuch next season.

[JohnC]

27 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

IMO, it's highly unlikely any of those forwards spend any amount of time on line with Tuch next season.

You are absolutely correct and I’m absolutely wrong. 

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

Yes.

He is better than people give him credit for defensively. Sure he make some plays when defending that aren't good, but he also prevents a lot of stuff that never gets noticed because of his size and he clogs up passing/skating lanes.

But offensively he is an elite scorer. Not only is he an elite scorer, he is near elite at generating his own chance. Meaning put him with your best winger, or put him with Krebs, and he is still getting his goals.

A very valuable forward.  Over 400 forwards played 40 games ore more last year. Tage and his impact on the Sabres can be slotted/ranked in that 10th-20th best to me...just considering his scoring he's higher than that even.

I'm guessing you mean "tage" not "tuch"?  Honestly just wanting to be sure you weren't talking about something last year. As far as typos...no problem as I make plenty of them myself.

Typo. Fingers not aligned with mind. 🥸

[TageMVP]

50 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

The question was to the affect can this team win a Cup with Tage as their best forward.

I'm not sure...  he's makes some low IQ plays and doesn't seem to anticipate or see the ice that well.    He's a shooter and he's great at it obviously, but I'm not sure they can win a championship with his as their best all around forward.

Could the Sabres win a championship if the Tuchster was still on the roster?