Tage Thompson features one of the NHL's most unique skill sets. The Buffalo Sabres superstar is built like a power forward at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, but he dangles around the ice like a speedy winger six or seven inches shorter. It's a sight to behold.
Elite Prospects' Jack Fraser, best known for running the JFresh Hockey analytics brand, just ranked Thompson as the league's 11th-best center entering the 2025-26 season. While Fraser noted the forward's positional designation will likely change to wing in the future, he explained what makes Tage special, regardless of where he lines up on the ice.
"Watch him for even a few shifts and it's immediately clear how he does it; his size and reach often make him look like a hockey camp coach playing keep-away against kids as he dangles and protects the puck, and his release is so unstoppable when given any space that it forces defenders to expose themselves to the risk of getting walked," Fraser wrote.
The question is whether Thompson will have enough offensive support around him in Buffalo to finally bring an end to the organization's miserable 14-year playoff drought.
Tage Thompson may need to hit the 50-goal milestone for the Buffalo Sabres to succeed in 2025-26
Thompson has scored 158 goals across the past four seasons, which is tied with Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov for 10th in the NHL over that span. He's topped the 40-goal plateau twice, including last season when he lit the lamp 44 times.
The 27-year-old American is aiming high on a personal level ahead of the new campaign, but added his main focus is finally pushing the Sabres back into postseason contention.
"I'd love to hit 50 goals and 100 points. That would be great but I think the priority is winning," Thompson told reporters. "I think if I'm doing those things, we're probably winning."
Although Tage obviously has the talent to achieve those lofty statistical targets, it's unclear whether Buffalo has enough other offensive skill in its lineup.
The Sabres traded winger JJ Peterka, who finished second on the team with 68 points last season, to the Utah Mammoth during the offseason. General manager Kevyn Adams didn't make any high-end acquistions to replace him in the top-six forward group.
Instead, the Blue and Gold will hope for internal improvement from the likes of Zach Benson, Jiri Kulich, Jack Quinn and Josh Doan, who was part of the Peterka return package from Utah, to fill the scoring void up front.
It's going to create a situation where a lot nights Thompson and Norris Trophy candidate Rasmus Dahlin will be asked to do most of the heavy lifting in the offensive zone.
Tage certainly doesn't lack motivation coming into the new campaign. He's aiming to make the Team USA Olympic roster for February's 2026 Winter Games in Italy. He was the biggest snub from the U.S. squad for last season's 4 Nations Face-Off, but he proved his worth by scoring the gold medal-clinching goal for the Americans at the 2025 IIHF World Championship in May.
If the Arizona native gets off to a strong start with the Sabres, there's little doubt he'll be on that plane to Italy when the NHL takes a midseason break for the Olympics.
Meanwhile, Thompson's future is likely on the wing.
Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff moved him out there midway through last season and kept him on the perimeter to open training camp. It keeps the 2023 All-Star out of the face-off circle, where he's struggled, and also helps mask some of his defensive weaknesses.
Even though a top-line winger isn't quite as sought after as a true No. 1 center, there's still immense value in someone who can score around a point per game on the wing.
All told, if the Sabres' playoff drought finally ends in 2026 and Thompson hits his 50-goal, 100-point target, he'll have a place in the Hart Trophy conversation at season's end.