The Buffalo Sabres face some major challenges this offseason, particularly as it pertains to Alex Tuch. However, that is not the only player from their top line that they have to make a crucial decision on that will impact next season. They will also need to decide whether they want Tage Thompson as a full-time center or wing.
Entering this past season, the Sabres seemed intent on having Thompson on the wing, but injuries to Josh Norris and Jiri Kulich forced Thompson back inside to center. While he did finish with a second straight season of 40 or more goals, the workload in the center seemed to wear him down, and he wasn't as impactful in the playoffs.
In the Canadiens series, the Sabres elected to move Thompson to the wing and create a line with Josh Norris at center and Zach Benson on the outside.
Tage Thompson is the replacement for Alex Tuch and the Sabres have to find a top-line center
For most of Thompson's career, he has bounced between wing and center, and if Thompson has his choice, he wants to play center. Early in the 2025-26 season, Thompson was moved to center and talked about how he liked it, as it kept him more involved in the play.
At the time, I was in full support of the move, and it worked for most of the season. However, in the playoffs, Thompson struggled until he was moved to the wing. Now, looking ahead to next season, operating under the mindset that Thompson is going to play wing gives the Sabres a clear plan on how to replace Alex Tuch.
By moving Thompson to the wing, the Sabres' focus shifts to adding a center instead of a wing. It not only leans into the depth within the franchise currently with Josh Norris, Ryan McLeod, Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund, and Konsta Helenius but also creates even more flexibility.
Recently, Lindy Ruff was on Sabres Live and asked about a potential logjam at the center position; however, the Sabres' head coach views it as a strength. "I actually look at it that it's great because you can always have wingers that you can't move to center, but you can have centers that you can always move to the wing."
That is why it makes perfect sense for the Sabres to go find a center to essentially replace Alex Tuch because it moves Tage Thompson to center. If that is the direction the Sabres go, it gives Lindy Ruff plenty of combinations to build the best possible lines.
Certainly finding a top line center is easier said than done but for general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, that is where he needs to start once it is confirmed that Alex Tuch is no longer returning to Western New York.
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