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Tage Thompson ready to 'take advantage of the opportunity' with Sabres
Tage is super excited and eager to prove himself:
“I’m super excited, especially after being injured. The uncertainty of what they see in you and for them to do a three-year deal is a really nice feeling. Obviously, it means they think highly of me and that they want me around. I want to be around here a long time, longer than three years, so it’s a good feeling. I have to take advantage of the opportunity and do everything I can to help the team win and be successful for the years to follow.”
Pete Pulaski, Thompson’s Connecticut-based offseason strength coach went to see him play a number of times in Rochester
“I was able to go and see him on the road with Rochester in multiple locations and ask him afterwards, ‘How are you doing? How do you feel?’ And he would be like, ‘Hey, the referee came up to me and said you’re a man amongst boys out here.’ He looked physically bigger than everyone. In terms of hockey, his ability to now use his skill set and be so much bigger, there were parts of games where he just took over.
When he had the confidence going, the juice going, he was literally taking over games in Roch. Take the puck, find the open man and, boom, it’s in the net. He was able to utilize his skill at a whole different level. … He always knew what he needed to do. It just took a little longer than we anticipated when he was 18 years old.”
There's the usual talk about his offseason conditioning and how he rehabbed his shoulder. He was cleared for full contact in June. He trained with his brother Tyce in New Jersey and Sharks prospect Maxim Lutonov. Then he went to Arizona for on ice work with a bunch of players including Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid where they played mini games.
“It was a really good atmosphere, really good skates. Obviously, very fast-paced playing with those guys. A good number of guys there, too. I think we had 12-to-16 NHL and AHL guys. Playing mini-games, it’s kind of the first game situation I’ve been in where you’re competing and battling since my shoulder injury, so it was nice to test out the shoulder a little bit.”
He's been in Buffalo since early September skating at LECOM Harbor Center with Eichel, Okposo, Montour and others. More players are expected to be coming in as they get ready for an abbreviated training camp.
He talks about becoming a more complete player.
“A lot of it was just confidence and helping round out my game completely. When I was younger I was predominately a point player, focusing on offense and the defensive side was never really a priority in my game. Now, turning pro, your role changes a bit. When you’re younger, you have to accept different roles and my first few years in the league I’ve been a third-, fourth-line guy and playing a defensive game is something I need to get better at and I think being sent down to Roch, being able to play in all situations, power play, penalty kill, being on the ice a lot helps round out your full game. I know I have the ability to score and produce points, but now I have the ability to shut down players and play a full 200-foot game.”
Tage now weighs 228½ pounds. He's fit. He's tanned. He's ready to dominate.
Tage is super excited and eager to prove himself:
“I’m super excited, especially after being injured. The uncertainty of what they see in you and for them to do a three-year deal is a really nice feeling. Obviously, it means they think highly of me and that they want me around. I want to be around here a long time, longer than three years, so it’s a good feeling. I have to take advantage of the opportunity and do everything I can to help the team win and be successful for the years to follow.”
Pete Pulaski, Thompson’s Connecticut-based offseason strength coach went to see him play a number of times in Rochester
“I was able to go and see him on the road with Rochester in multiple locations and ask him afterwards, ‘How are you doing? How do you feel?’ And he would be like, ‘Hey, the referee came up to me and said you’re a man amongst boys out here.’ He looked physically bigger than everyone. In terms of hockey, his ability to now use his skill set and be so much bigger, there were parts of games where he just took over.
When he had the confidence going, the juice going, he was literally taking over games in Roch. Take the puck, find the open man and, boom, it’s in the net. He was able to utilize his skill at a whole different level. … He always knew what he needed to do. It just took a little longer than we anticipated when he was 18 years old.”
There's the usual talk about his offseason conditioning and how he rehabbed his shoulder. He was cleared for full contact in June. He trained with his brother Tyce in New Jersey and Sharks prospect Maxim Lutonov. Then he went to Arizona for on ice work with a bunch of players including Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid where they played mini games.
“It was a really good atmosphere, really good skates. Obviously, very fast-paced playing with those guys. A good number of guys there, too. I think we had 12-to-16 NHL and AHL guys. Playing mini-games, it’s kind of the first game situation I’ve been in where you’re competing and battling since my shoulder injury, so it was nice to test out the shoulder a little bit.”
He's been in Buffalo since early September skating at LECOM Harbor Center with Eichel, Okposo, Montour and others. More players are expected to be coming in as they get ready for an abbreviated training camp.
He talks about becoming a more complete player.
“A lot of it was just confidence and helping round out my game completely. When I was younger I was predominately a point player, focusing on offense and the defensive side was never really a priority in my game. Now, turning pro, your role changes a bit. When you’re younger, you have to accept different roles and my first few years in the league I’ve been a third-, fourth-line guy and playing a defensive game is something I need to get better at and I think being sent down to Roch, being able to play in all situations, power play, penalty kill, being on the ice a lot helps round out your full game. I know I have the ability to score and produce points, but now I have the ability to shut down players and play a full 200-foot game.”
Tage now weighs 228½ pounds. He's fit. He's tanned. He's ready to dominate.
