Buffalo Sabres: Thompson Doesn’t Need Gordie Howe Hat Tricks

Tage Thompson is one of a few members of the Buffalo Sabres that does not need to make a living recording Gordie Howe Hat Tricks. 

Tage Thompson is already proving that he can live up to the big contract extension he signed over the summer. With four points over the last two contests, Thompson is putting the league on notice. Perhaps a little too much.

On Tuesday night, he recorded the good old Gordie Howe Hat Trick. To achieve the feat, a player must log one goal, one assist, and one fight during the game. Even more amazing: He recorded it in the first period.  In case you missed the action, here’s a video:

Hope you enjoyed it, because this shouldn’t happen again in 2022. While myself and the Buffalo Sabres faithful applaud Tage in standing up for Vinnie Hinostroza, someone needs to tell him he’s no longer a borderline draft bust slash fringe fourth-liner these days.

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson needs another kind of hat trick

While it’s certainly entertaining to see the rare accomplishment, star players like Tage Thompson could end up doing more damage to their respective teams given the five-minute major that usually follows. Overall, Thompson had 19 penalty minutes for the game.

Since it’s preseason, we can let this one slide. But when the games count, the Buffalo Sabres need someone, anyone, to step in and stand up for a teammate. And that someone should not be named Tage Thompson.

Again, it was bold, valiant, gallant, chivalrous, you name it. But it’s not worth spending an extended period in the penalty box over. Instead, I’d rather see Thompson record a few hat tricks to help the Sabres win a lot of games this season, not making rash decisions that could cost his team in crucial moments.

Hopefully, Tage got this one out of his system. The regular season starts in 10 days, and he would do well to record a few hat tricks to further live up to that big contract he signed.