Player Discussion Tage Thompson 2

[Dreakon13]

I didn't see anything from Thompson's first full pro season last year nor in training camp this year that led me to believe that he was ready for full time NHL duty this season. And I was hardly alone in that opinion.

He should have been treated in much the same way that Olofsson was treated, IMO.

I can't say you're wrong. Maybe our lacking winger depth has something to do with them picking one prospect to make the NHL squad, and respectfully, he had a very good camp. Along with Nylander, just without the baggage of the prior seasons AHL benching. Better than Olofsson, Smith, Asplund, etc.

People were furious that Nylander didn't make the cut. It would've been the same way if Nylander made it and Thompson didn't.

EDIT: And I agree a good camp doesn't mean "ready for full time NHL duty". I'm only condoning not sending him down from the perspective that something about Thompson made them believe it was something he could work through. Which we wouldn't really know.

 

[Doohickie]

On the other hand, it seemed apparent from the limited look we got at the end of the season that Olofsson benefited greatly from the time in the AHL.

 

[sabremike]

I can't say you're wrong. Maybe our lacking winger depth has something to do with them picking one prospect to make the NHL squad, and respectfully, he had a very good camp. Along with Nylander, just without the baggage of the prior seasons AHL benching. Better than Olofsson, Smith, Asplund, etc.

People were furious that Nylander didn't make the cut. It would've been the same way if Nylander made it and Thompson didn't.

EDIT: And I agree a good camp doesn't mean "ready for full time NHL duty". I'm only condoning not sending him down from the perspective that something about Thompson made them believe it was something he could work through. Which we wouldn't really know.

You are aware that in the previous season the Blues depth was really bad and forced them to call up Tage, then Tage was so unbelievably awful that they ended up sending him back to the AHL despite their roster depth situation? He earned a chance in training camp but after about 2 weeks Botts should've been able to figure out that he wasn't an NHL quality player at this point in his career.

 

[Dreakon13]

You are aware that in the previous season the Blues depth was really bad and forced them to call up Tage, then Tage was so unbelievably awful that they ended up sending him back to the AHL despite their roster depth situation? He earned a chance in training camp but after about 2 weeks Botts should've been able to figure out that he wasn't an NHL quality player at this point in his career.

I find it hard to believe any team has as little NHL quality depth as us to start this year. Especially without the benefit of hindsight on certain newcomers.

 

[sabremike]

I find it hard to believe any team has as little NHL quality depth as us to start this year. Especially without the benefit of hindsight on certain newcomers.

IIRC the depth problem with the Blues that season was caused by several injuries.

 

[Buffaloed]

I expect Tage to have a breakout season (20g, 20a) that will plunge the fanbase into civil war when he holds out and demands the Reinhart bridge contract.

 

[Tatre]

Despite his struggles last year, I would be f***ing elated if Tage gets 40 pts next season.

 

[coastal]

He’s a bitching AHL player

 

[sabremike]

He’s a *****ing AHL player

YOU TAKE THAT BACK!!!!!!!!!


WE LOVE AND WORSHIP TAGE JUST LIKE VLAD SOBOTKA DOES!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DatGuy]

YOU TAKE THAT BACK!!!!!!!!!


WE LOVE AND WORSHIP TAGE JUST LIKE VLAD SOBOTKA DOES!!!!!!!!!!

View attachment 233737

That’s a great picture.

 

[HaNotsri]

These 40 point predictions are for his AHL-career, right?

 

[Howie Hodge]

He could be, number wise, the next Luke Adam....

Luke is actually still playing, in the DEL, btw.... Ach du lieber!!

 

[Rasmus CacOlainen]

With competent coaching and linemates and 2PP unit time he should get to 20+25 easily this season. I don't see him going back to the AHL whatever happens this season. Botts will not give up on him just because fans don't like his ROR trade return. And frankly I don't think he's played as badly as some make him out to be while the season still meant something despite being coached by a Baffoon.

 

[Moskau]

Was hoping he retired when I saw the bump.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Why are people so hard on him? Don't blame him for Botterill's mistakes.

Tage hopefully can score 30 goals in the AHL next year and give us hope for the future.

 

[Aladyyn]

Why are people so hard on him? Don't blame him for Botterill's mistakes.

Tage hopefully can score 30 goals in the AHL next year and give us hope for the future.

Because he sucks? We're hard on every player that sucks...

 

[Sabre Dance]

Because he sucks? We're hard on every player that sucks...

He doesn't suck. He's 21. 8 goals in 11 AHL games last year. Give him a chance.

 

[Aladyyn]

He doesn't suck. He's 21. 8 goals in 11 AHL games last year. Give him a chance.

He is 21 and he also sucks. Both are true.

 

[sabremike]

Because he sucks? We're hard on every player that sucks...

Tage has had enough of your bullshit!!!

 

[Gabrielor]

He doesn't suck. He's 21. 8 goals in 11 AHL games last year. Give him a chance.

Exactly where he belongs right now

 

[tsujimoto74]

He is 21 and he also sucks. Both are true.

He sucked as an NHL player. He crushed it in the AHL when he was finally sent down. He wasn't ready for the bigs, but there's definitely still promise for a successful NHL career there.

 

[OkimLom]

With competent coaching and linemates and 2PP unit time he should get to 20+25 easily this season. I don't see him going back to the AHL whatever happens this season. Botts will not give up on him just because fans don't like his ROR trade return. And frankly I don't think he's played as badly as some make him out to be while the season still meant something despite being coached by a Baffoon.

Why do you think the difference between him getting 12 points and 45 points is competent coaching and linemates and 2 PP unit time, to increase his offense output 275%? Especially for a guy who has never been an average offensive producer at best at the professional level. Tage has a wicked shot, but the rest of his tools leave a lot to be desired, even at the AHL level. His slow reading of the play, his slow acceleration, his 50/50 of his poke check is going to get him in a lot of trouble if he can't produce a physical game. It's the type of game which can lead to potential penalties down the road. His playing making is an absolute joke.

Why are people so hard on him? Don't blame him for Botterill's mistakes.

Tage hopefully can score 30 goals in the AHL next year and give us hope for the future.

Not everyone that is hard on him does so because he's a result of a poor trade.

There are legit gripes about his game, that posters have brought up in the past. His only redeeming quality is his shot, but his reading of play, and his acceleration hamper his ability to get into the slot to find soft areas of the zone to utilize his shot on a consistent basis. Even though he's 6'6", he's very weak for his size, and I don't see his body frame being able to handle more muscle/weight and his center of gravity doesn't seem to exist. It's very easy to knock him off his skating lane/path. We would be very lucky if we can get a consistent 20-25 point season out of him.

 

[Snippit]

8 goals in 10 AHL games is still nothing to scoff at.

He needs a full year in the AHL to cut a lot of the shit out of his game, and then we can go from there.

I believe in him more than I do Nylander.

 

[OkimLom]

8 goals in 10 AHL games is still nothing to scoff at.

He needs a full year in the AHL to cut a lot of the **** out of his game, and then we can go from there.

I believe in him more than I do Nylander.

Why do you have more belief in Tage than Nylander?

 

[Chainshot]

8 goals in 10 AHL games is still nothing to scoff at.

He needs a full year in the AHL to cut a lot of the **** out of his game, and then we can go from there.

I believe in him more than I do Nylander.

Why do you have more belief in Tage than Nylander?

I'm wondering that as well.

The only thing Thompson does well at this time is shoot the puck. He isn't good at winning puck battles, he isn't good at making passing decisions when he does have it. He doesn't carry it well and regularly makes poor decisions in high danger areas (namely within 10' of either side of either blueline) when he does. Yes, he can occasionally stickhandle, but his outcomes at this point are not a net positive. There is no physical imposition to his game since he's easily knocked off his feet. And I'm not talking hitting, just being able to use a large frame to push through opponents to either establish position or win a puck.

Nylander can carry the puck, can distribute the puck and has some finish to his game. What we haven't seen is urgency to use those tools shift to shift.

Both are flawed, yet it seems Thompson needs others to deliver the puck for him to use his one quality skill far more than Nylander needs others to shift the balance of play.