Honestly, if you were building a hockey player in a lab, you wouldn’t make Tage Thompson. He doesn't make sense. You’d probably go for the standard 6-foot-2 frame with a decent stride, but instead, the Buffalo Sabres ended up with a 6-foot-6 skyscraper who handles the puck like he’s playing in a phone booth.
People used to write him off. When he first got to Buffalo as the "centerpiece" of the Ryan O'Reilly trade with St. Louis, he looked... well, awkward. He was a lanky kid who couldn't quite figure out where his limbs ended and the ice began. Fast forward to 2026, and he's not just a top-line center; he’s a legitimate nightmare for opposing coaches.
He's basically the NHL's version of a glitch.
The Ridiculous Evolution of the Buffalo Sabres Tage Thompson
It’s easy to forget how close Thompson was to being labeled a "bust." In his first few years with the Sabres, the production just wasn't there. We're talking about a guy who had 12 points in 65 games during the 2018-19 season.
Then Don Granato moved him to center. Everything changed.
The 2022-23 season was the "holy crap" moment. He put up 47 goals and 94 points. People thought it was a fluke, a one-off heater. But look at where he is now in this 2025-26 campaign. As of mid-January 2026, he’s already sitting on 25 goals and 50 points through 47 games. He just notched his 200th career goal in a massive 5-3 win over Montreal on January 15th.
He isn't just a tall guy with a good shot. He’s a tactical weapon.
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Why his reach is a cheat code
The physics of Buffalo Sabres Tage Thompson are what make him so weird to defend. Most 6-foot-6 players are "net-front presences" or "defensive specialists." They park their butts in the crease and hope for a deflection.
Tage doesn't do that. He plays like a 5-foot-10 skill winger trapped in a giant's body.
His reach allows him to keep the puck so far away from defenders that they literally can't poke check it. By the time they realize they can't reach the puck, he's already dragged it back into his shooting stance—which, by the way, is terrifying. We are talking about a guy who clocked a 106.00 MPH slap shot against Dallas. That is not a typo. 106.
Breakdowns, Slumps, and Coming Back Stronger
It hasn’t all been sunshine and hat tricks. Last season (2024-25), he dealt with some nagging stuff. A lower-body injury in November 2024 cost him a chunk of time, and then a concussion in February 2025 slowed down his momentum.
Despite that, he still finished that year with 44 goals. Think about that. A "down" or "injured" year for Thompson is still better than almost every other power forward's career best.
In the current 2025-26 stretch, he’s been the engine behind the Sabres' recent surge. Buffalo went on a 15-3-0 run starting in early December, and it's no coincidence that Tage was on a tear during that exact window. He had a six-game goal-scoring streak and has been basically a point-per-game player since the puck dropped in October.
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The Sabres are finally looking like a team that can actually scare people in the Atlantic Division, and it starts with No. 72.
The Contract That Looked Crazy (But Wasn't)
When Kevyn Adams signed Thompson to that seven-year, $50 million extension back in 2022, the hockey world had a collective heart attack. "Seven million a year for a guy with one good season?" they said.
Now? It’s arguably one of the best value contracts in the league.
With the cap rising and Thompson consistently threatening the 40-50 goal mark, that $7.14 million AAV (Average Annual Value) looks like a steal. He’s signed through 2029-30. If he keeps this pace up, he’ll be underpaid by the time he’s 30.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Game
Most fans see the height and assume he’s a "power forward" in the traditional sense. He isn't. He doesn't go around running people through the end boards like Tom Wilson or Brady Tkachuk.
He’s a finesse player.
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If you watch him closely, his best work happens on the power play from the "Ovechkin spot" on the left circle. Because he’s so tall, the angle of his shot is different from anyone else’s. Goalies have a hard time tracking the puck because it leaves his stick from such a wide position.
Then there's the "Tommy Dangles" nickname. Watching a guy that big weave through three defenders in the neutral zone is honestly kind of hilarious. It looks like he’s playing against middle schoolers sometimes.
How to Watch Tage Like an Expert
If you're heading to KeyBank Center or just catching a Sabres game on TV, don't just watch the puck. Watch how Thompson positions himself when he doesn't have it.
- The Glide: Notice how he uses his long stride to maintain speed without looking like he’s working hard. He covers more ground in three strides than most players do in six.
- The Blade Angle: Watch his stick. He uses an incredibly long stick (obviously), which allows him to intercept passes that other centers would miss by a foot.
- The Pivot: For a big man, his lateral movement is elite. He can turn his hips and change direction in a way that usually kills the knees of guys his size.
Practical Takeaways for Sabres Fans
The Buffalo Sabres are finally relevant again, and Buffalo Sabres Tage Thompson is the primary reason. If you’re following the team this season, keep an eye on his health. When he’s 100%, Buffalo is a playoff-caliber team. When he’s banged up, the offense tends to dry up because there’s nobody else who can replicate his gravity on the ice.
Actionable Insights:
- Fantasy Hockey: If he’s on your roster, don't trade him during a cold snap. He is notoriously streaky but his "heaters" can win you a week single-handedly.
- Betting Trends: Keep an eye on his "Shots on Goal" props. He’s averaging nearly 3.5 shots per game this season.
- Watch the Olympic Roster: With the 2026 Winter Olympics in sight, Thompson is a lock for Team USA. His chemistry with guys like Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk (who he played with in the USNTDP) could be the reason the US finally grabs gold.
The Sabres are no longer a basement dweller, and Tage isn't just a tall kid with potential. He’s the centerpiece of a franchise that’s finally waking up.