Tage Thompson has been the best forward on the Buffalo Sabres, and he is once again working his way to legendary status for the Blue and Gold.
Tage Thompson leads the Buffalo Sabres with 15 goals on the season, four more than the next batch that includes Jeff Skinner, Alex Tuch, and Victor Olofsson. Watching Tage this year, you can just tell he is on another level, and there is at least a 50% chance he scores when he finds himself in front of the net with the puck in a one-on-one battle with an opposing goaltender.
With 15 goals on the season, Tage is on pace to score 51, which further puts him on pace to join another rare class if he keeps up his high-octane ways. Just 48 hours ago, I talked about how Tage can join the Sabres 100-point class, and today, I’d like you to know he can also join the 50-goal class.
So far, that class comprises:
- Pat LaFontaine
- Rick Martin
- Alexander Mogilny
- Danny Gare
Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson can join two rare classes in one year
What is amazing about Tage’s pace is that he seems to be getting hotter as the season progresses. If you remember correctly, he scored just one goal in the Buffalo Sabres first seven games, giving him 14 in the last 17, averaging 0.82 goals per game in that stretch.
Suppose Tage keeps up that pace. It would give him another 48 goals on the season for a total of 62. While I find it highly unlikely he will keep up this pace, I also don’t see him crashing back to Earth any time soon. Therefore, it wouldn’t surprise me if he scored at least 35 more this season, which will give him enough to join that second rare club.
Overall, Tage has evolved into the Sabres best forward over the previous two seasons. And while his contract extension over the summer drew mixed reviews, he is showing time and again that he is worthy of such a lucrative, long-term pay day.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)
Article Source: Observations: Dylan Cozens’ breakout continues with 3-point night in Sabres’ loss by Lance Lysowski
Want your voice heard? Join the Sabre Noise team!