The Buffalo Sabres showed they were all in on Thompson when the forward agreed to a seven-year, $50 million contract Aug. 30, 2022 (average annual value of $7.14 million) beginning with the 2023-24 season. It was a highlight in a journey that began with Thompson, a native of Glendale, Arizona, attending 11 different schools in the United States, graduating from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2014, playing for the United States National Team Development Program and enrolling at the University of Connecticut for two seasons.
Thompson's father is Brent Thompson, a retired defenseman who played 121 NHL games from 1991-97 for the Los Angeles Kings, Winnipeg Jets and Phoenix Coyotes. Tage helped the United States win the the 2015 IIHF U-18 World Championship playing with Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk. Thompson also played for Team Plante in the 2015 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game.
The Buffalo Sabres showed they were all in on Thompson when the forward agreed to a seven-year, $50 million contract extension Aug. 30, 2022 (average annual value of $7.14 million.) beginning with the 2023-24 season. It was a highlight in a journey that began with Thompson, a native of Glendale, Arizona, attending 11 different schools in the United States, graduating from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2014, playing for the United States National Team Development Program and enrolling at the University of Connecticut for two seasons.
Thompson's father is Brent Thompson, a retired defenseman who played 121 NHL games from 1991-97 for the Los Angeles Kings, Winnipeg Jets and Phoenix Coyotes. Tage helped the United States win the the 2015 IIHF U-18 World Championship playing with Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk. Thompson also played for Team Plante in the 2015 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game.
Following Thompson's freshman season at UConn, when he had 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) in 36 games, he was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the first round (No. 26) of the 2016 NHL Draft. He had 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) as a sophomore and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with St. Louis on March 7, 2017. He played the end of the regular season with Chicago of the American Hockey League and had three points (two goals, one assist) in 10 Calder Cup playoff games.
Thompson made his NHL debut in the Blues' regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 4, 2017. Although he was sent to San Antonio of the AHL after four games, he was recalled Dec. 18. Three days later, he scored his first NHL goal in a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. He finished the season with nine points (three goals, six assists) in 41 games and was acquired by Buffalo in the trade for forward Ryan O'Reilly on July 1, 2018.
Playing on the Sabres' top line with Jeff Skinner and Alex Tuch, Thompson enjoyed a breakout season in 2021-22 with 68 points (38 goals, 30 assists) in 78 games. He led Buffalo with 28 points from March 2 to the end of the season helped it go 16-9-3 in 28 games, a .625 points percentage that was tied for 12th in the NHL with the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.
Thompson scored his 40th goal of the 2022-23 season in a 7-4 win against the Washington Capitals on Feb. 26 to join Skinner (40 in 2018-19) and Thomas Vanek (43 in 2006-07 & 40 in 2008-09) as the only Sabres players to hit the mark in a season in the past 20 years. At 25 years, 119 days, Thompson became the youngest Sabre to reach the 40-goal mark in a season since Vanek (25 years, 82 days) in 2008-09.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- Traded to Buffalo by St. Louis with Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, St. Louis' 1st-round pick in 2019 or 2020 NHL Draft and St. Louis' 2nd-round pick in 2021 NHL Draft for Ryan O'Reilly, July 1, 2018.
