Player Discussion Tage Thompson 1

[Gabrielor]

I don’t like his chances, but prove me wrong big guy.

 

[jc17]

Does he do anything well other than shoot?

I would love it if he turns out to be a viable top 6 winger but I've yet to see any reasons besides shot and height. When you're height is your second biggest selling point its not a good sign

 

[haseoke39]

Top 6? Top 14 is the first hurdle.

 

[Dingo44]

I think the Sabres might have told him they see him in the top six, and if he's not going to play there, he'll start the season in Rochester. Which makes sense from a development standpoint.

 

[jc17]

Would Tage getting top 6 RW minutes push Sam back to C? I don't see them playing Reinhart or Okposo on the third line unless Okposo looks really rough or they want to shelter him.

 

[sufferer]

Would Tage getting top 6 RW minutes push Sam back to C? I don't see them playing Reinhart or Okposo on the third line unless Okposo looks really rough or they want to shelter him.

Skinner - Reinhart - Thompson could make for an interesting line.

 

[1point21Gigawatts]

I don’t like his chances, but prove me wrong big guy.

Even if he doesn't get top 6 minutes, i am confident he'll improve the bottom 6. My concern is Housley gifting him those top 6 minutes and not giving him incentive to earn it.

 

[CatsforReinhart]

Even if he doesn't get top 6 minutes, i am confident he'll improve the bottom 6. My concern is Housley gifting him those top 6 minutes and not giving him incentive to earn it.

The kid has a very good head on his shoulders I don't think you have to worry about that

 

[vcv]

I'd rather see him in the high slot, where Oshie played for the Caps. Same spot the Sabres had Okposo for a while and then ROR.

1. Jack Eichel
2. Sam Reinhart
3. Tage Thompson
4. Casey Middlestadt
5. Rasmus Dahlin

Skinner, Okposo, Ristolainen?, ??? on the 2nd unit.

Don't @ me

 

[Der Jaeger]

View attachment 136461
1. Jack Eichel
2. Sam Reinhart
3. Tage Thompson
4. Casey Middlestadt
5. Rasmus Dahlin

Skinner, Okposo, Ristolainen?, ??? on the 2nd unit.

Don't @ me

1st Unit:
1: Eichel
2: Reinhart
3: Okposo
4: Skinner
5: Dahlin

2nd unit:
1: Sheary
2: Berglund
3: Thompson
4: Mittelstadt
5: Ristolainen

 

[Moskau]

I think the Sabres might have told him they see him in the top six, and if he's not going to play there, he'll start the season in Rochester. Which makes sense from a development standpoint.

Did they tell Justin Bailey and Nic Baptiste the same thing? Two guys who have outperformed him at the AHL level and two guys who many think will likely start the season on waivers.

[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]

 

[Icicle]

Would Tage getting top 6 RW minutes push Sam back to C? I don't see them playing Reinhart or Okposo on the third line unless Okposo looks really rough or they want to shelter him.

Okposo would be a great compliment to Berglund on a 3rd line.

 

[Dingo44]

Did they tell Justin Bailey and Nic Baptiste the same thing? Two guys who have outperformed him at the AHL level and two guys who many think will likely start the season on waivers.

I dunno.

Maybe they don't see B or B as top six guys. Maybe they do. I'm not commenting on who deserves a spot to start the season on the big club.

 

[sandybridge]

I think the Sabres might have told him they see him in the top six, and if he's not going to play there, he'll start the season in Rochester. Which makes sense from a development standpoint.

Yeah, he definitely needs some more time. He's just not physically mature enough. He has decent mobility for a huge guy, but seems to completely lack a physical game. I guess the absolute best case scenario would be someone like JVR. But need to see him really put on some bulk and be willing to go to the net more for that to happen.

 

[Tatanka]

He rubs me the wrong way. I don’t see the elite top 6 talent. More like a taller Girgs.

 

[nickdawg95]

he should be in roc getting top line minutes there for the start of the season

 

[Sabre Dance]

He rubs me the wrong way. I don’t see the elite top 6 talent. More like a taller Girgs.

Girgensons? Girgensons shot doesn't compare.

 

[TehDoak]

he should be in roc getting top line minutes there for the start of the season

We're a last place team. I have to think if he is legitimately one of the best players at camp, he'll get a chance to stick with the big club.

But....if he's going to play 4th line minutes, especially when you factor in his waiver status, I agree 100%, send him to Rochester.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Did they tell Justin Bailey and Nic Baptiste the same thing? Two guys who have outperformed him at the AHL level and two guys who many think will likely start the season on waivers.

Yeah.... Thompson outperformed both of them last year in the AHL, and is two years younger. Any particular reason to leave that out?

 

[haseoke39]

We're a last place team. I have to think if he is legitimately one of the best players at camp, he'll get a chance to stick with the big club.

I just see no reason to expect he'll be one of the best players in camp. His pedigree suggests he'll be in a mosh pit with six other tweener guys who might have the chance to steal one forward spot.

 

[Jim Bob]

Yeah.... Thompson outperformed both of them last year in the AHL, and is two years younger. Any particular reason to leave that out?

Here is how they performed last year in the AHL:

Player A: 0.19 GPG 0.5 PPG
Player B: 0.27 GPG 0.6 PPG
Player C: 0.27 GPG 0.41 PPG

It's not like any of them had either a great AHL statline last year or was head and shoulders above the other two.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Here is how they performed last year in the AHL:

Player A: 0.19 GPG 0.5 PPG
Player B: 0.27 GPG 0.6 PPG
Player C: 0.27 GPG 0.41 PPG

It's not like any of them had either a great AHL statline last year or was head and shoulders above the other two.

I think 33% is considerably better; but yes none of them burned down the league. However, one of those players is 30 months younger than the other two.

 

[Moskau]

Yeah.... Thompson outperformed both of them last year in the AHL, and is two years younger. Any particular reason to leave that out?

Because there are ebbs and flows in player development and I would much rather compare all 3 at the same stages of their careers at this point. And Bailey and Baptiste both outperformed Thompson, considerably I might add.

If I didn't know who either player was and I pulled up this thread and threads on Bailey and Baptiste I would walk away with the impression that Thompson was a blue chip prospect and Bailey and Baptiste were nothing prospects when the reality is at this point all 3 look to be mediocre prospects that may or may not surprise us and work out but chances are they wont because most prospects don't.
Yet 1 of them is penciled into our future lineup and the other 2 most posters feel wont even be in the organization. It's very curious.

Thompson was rushed to the NHL and Buffalo would be smart to try and correct that. Unless he's leading the league in points at the end of pre-season he shouldn't be anywhere near our lineup.

 

[Icicle]

Here is how they performed last year in the AHL:

Player A: 0.19 GPG 0.5 PPG
Player B: 0.27 GPG 0.6 PPG
Player C: 0.27 GPG 0.41 PPG

It's not like any of them had either a great AHL statline last year or was head and shoulders above the other two.

The difference between Thompson's 1st stint in the AHL and 2nd stint is night and day. He improved greatly. When was the last time Baptiste or Bailey showed improvement?

 

[Jim Bob]

The difference between Thompson's 1st stint in the AHL and 2nd stint is night and day. He improved greatly. When was the last time Baptiste or Bailey showed improvement?

Last season was Thompson's first full pro season.

And honestly, if you are trying to compare Thompson to Bailey and Baptiste, that is talking really poorly about Thompson if you think he has top 6 winger upside.

I don't know too many people that think that Bailey and Baptiste are top 6 material