Thompson was among the top offensive talents on the Sabres this season.
Total Season Stats: 29-27-56 in 71 games played
Age: 26
Contract Status: Signed through 2029-30 at $7.142 million AAV
As a standalone season, Tage Thompson had a decent year with the Buffalo Sabres. He was third on the team in scoring with 56 points in 71 games, including a team-high 29 goals, despite missing time with injury. The drop-off from the 2022-23 season to this season was clear – going from 94 points to 56 is undoubtedly a significant drop – but you couldn’t ask for much more from him, especially as it became clearer over the course of the season that he was playing through injury.
Despite the injury (or injuries), Thompson still put up good numbers on a team that was fumbling to miss the playoffs. Along with guys like Alex Tuch and Jeff Skinner, Thompson made up a huge portion of Buffalo’s offense. The key going forward is to get him healthy/recovered and see if he can return to those 2022-23 sort of numbers, where he became the talk of the NHL. Thompson easily elevates the players around him, and they do the same for him.
Thompson had points in 37 of 71 games this past season, including 12 multi-point games.
Here’s Thompson’s full end-of-season media availability:
Given his lengthy contract, Thompson is likely to be considered a leader on this team for several years. Key points to watch in the 2024-25 season will be his health, but also how he flourishes and works into Lindy Ruff’s coaching style. He is a responsible offensive player whose success on the ice is almost directly linked to the team’s success; if Thompson is playing well, the Sabres will do well.
Season Grade: A-