This Buffalo Sabres center was an NHL All-Star snub

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 01: Henri Jokiharju #10 and Tage Thompson #72 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrate Thompson's third-period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 1, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sabres 5-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 01: Henri Jokiharju #10 and Tage Thompson #72 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrate Thompson's third-period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 1, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sabres 5-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres have struggled all season, but they easily could have had two players represent the team in the NHL All-Star Game.

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson has enjoyed a breakout campaign. The 24-year-old center is still averaging under 20 minutes of average ice time and he’s had limited ice time in general for most of his career, never averaging over 14 minutes until 2021-22.

But when given the chance, Thompson has become yet another puzzle piece for the Sabres, especially in the scoring department, where he has logged 30 points, 14 goals, and 16 assists in 41 games. Thompson deserved at least consideration for the All-Star Game, and he got just that as the team’s representative for Last Man In, which ultimately went to Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos.

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson was an All-Star snub

The Sabres traded for Thompson after he spent the 2017-18 season with the St. Louis Blues, where he played 41 games for the team and appeared in 30 games with the San Antonio Rampage (now the Henderson Silver Knights). Thompson appeared in 65 games with the Sabres in 2018-19 and saw limited ice time over the previous two seasons, but never produced until this year.

While we can call him a snub, head coach Don Granato had this to say about his center in mid-January:

"“But as far as the potential, I don’t think we’re seeing anything close to what he’s going to become. We just need to keep getting him in situations, his confidence will grow and grow.”"

Now there’s a vote of confidence. You can say the same for Rasmus Dahlin, the Sabres’ All-Star Game representative. Just last season, Sabre fans were convinced the team ruined him because of his regression. But after spending nearly a year under Granato, Dahlin’s heading to his first All-Star Game.

And it seems as though Granato’s developing Thompson as well as he’s continuing to develop Dahlin. Like Dahlin, Thompson is gaining a reputation as a two-way player, unafraid to body check opponents or to use his intimidating size to ward them off when fighting for the puck.

Thompson is also second on the team with 17 takeaways. If he cuts down on the turnovers, look for him to contend for an All-Star spot in the future.

(All statistics courtesy of Hockey-Reference)