Tage Thompson had a bit of a down year last year compared to his 22-23 season where he put up a career-high 47 goals, and 94 points in 78 games.
That monster season earned him a giant contract, Tage Thompson signed a 7 year , $49,999,999 contract with the Buffalo Sabres, including $2,000,000 signing bonus, $49,999,999 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $7,142,857. In 2024-25, Thompson will earn a base salary of $7,142,857, while carrying a cap hit of $7,142,857.
In the 2023-2024 Season, Tage Thompson fell to 29 goals and 56 points. His power-play output dropped by 18 points.
However, Tage Thompson’s struggles were partly his own doing. In November, he suffered a broken left hand blocking a shot, and the Sabres hoped that it wouldn’t sideline him for longer than a month or so. They ultimately got their wish when he returned in December after missing just nine games (albeit with his hand in a brace).
Just the way Tage Thompson’s season went in terms of injuries, In the midst of the Buffalo Sabres‘ final game of the 2023-24 season, forward Tage Thompson‘s year came to an unfortunate early end.
The 26-year-old center was ruled out for the remainder of the team’s game vs the Tampa Bay Lightning with a lower-body injury in the first period.
Is Tage Thompson set for a bounceback year?
I’d say Tage Thompson should bounce back next year, idk if he will put up 47 goals or more, but as long as he stays healthy he should put up 35-40 goals, Buffalo may not make the playoffs again but they have a solid roster, enough to not hurt his production.
The Buffalo Sabres lines are projected like this for the 2024-25 season.
Line 1: (LW) Zach Benson – (C) Tage Thompson – (RW) Alex Tuch
Line 2: (LW) – JJ Peterka – (C) Dylan Cozens – (RW) Jack Quinn
Line 3: (LW) – Jason Zucker – (C) Ryan McLeod – (RW) Jordan Greenway
Line 4: (LW) – Sam Lafferty – (C) Peyton Krebs – (RW) Beck Malenstyn.
Obviously these are just very early projections, we won’t know fully until preseason starts and people preform over/under expectations.
Veteran Jason Zucker is someone I can see moving up into the top 6 or even potentially Tage Thompson’s line, he’s got potential to score goals and has consistently for many years for different teams now.
Final Thoughts.
I’d absolutely draft Tage Thompson next season, ESPN has him projected (this was before NHL free agency by the way) 54th Overall, and the 17th Best Center, below people like Steven Stamkos, Joel Eriksen Ek and other Centers.
Center is a very stacked position in Fantasy, with the likes of Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and very many others who are better then Tage Thompson, but Thompson’s value at the 17th Center is insanely good, who knows where he will be selected in fantasy right now, but that’s an absolute steal if so, he’s got the potential to score in the 40s and get close or at 100 points in a full 82 game season, he’s a must draft for me, the risk is absolutely worth the potential especially if Buffalo finally makes the playoffs next season.
Tage Thompson is on a Sabres team who is expected to make the playoffs, The Buffalo Sabres have the longest active playoff series win drought at 17 seasons and also have the longest active post-season appearance drought at 13 seasons, a league record.
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