Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson signed a seven-year contract extension over the summer and he is showcasing why he will be worth the money.
The Buffalo Sabres landed a franchise cornerstone in Tage Thompson when they inserted him into the first line last season and he never looked back. In 2021-22, he paced the team in points with 68, and he also logged 38 goals. This year? In 12 games, Tage has 15 points, tied for first on the team with none other than Rasmus Dahlin.
And while Tage had a quiet two-game stretch where he was responsible for just one point (against Tampa Bay), he still showed the ability to create and provide opportunities for his Sabres teammates. This is something great hockey players do when they aren’t busy adding to their points total.
Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson is a clear-cut MVP candidate
When you look at overall points totals, Tage is definitely behind some of the most elite NHL talents like Connor McDavid and David Pastrnak. However, his 12 points over the last five contests shows us that he might just be getting started in what is still a young 2022-23 NHL Season.
Further, Tage’s overall numbers have been solid, with a 14.5% shooting percentage after 12 games. He has six takeaways that is putting him on-pace for 41 at the moment, and he is effective when battling for the puck on the back check.
While it’s still anyone’s race for the Hart, Tage is definitely stating his case early in the season, and you can expect his high-octane play to continue as he has appeared to have found his stride. Through the Sabres first 12 games, he has also been the team’s best forward, and since the Sabres currently have four forwards on-pace for 70-plus points this year, that’s saying something.
Tage, however, could also face staunch competition from his own teammate in Rasmus Dahlin, who many, myself included, believe is a viable candidate for the Norris Trophy. If the Sabres indeed find themselves in the playoffs with Tage and Dahlin leading the way, you could easily see two dark horses at the beginning of the season battle it out for the Hart.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)
Article Source: Tage Thompson looks like an MVP Caliber Player by Jesse Courville-Lynch
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