Buffalo Sabers 2025-26 Player Ratings: Tage Thompson – Hockey Writers – Buffalo Sabers

The Buffalo Sabers are coming off their best season in nearly two decades. They won the Atlantic Division and dispatched their bitter rivals, the Boston Bruins, in the first round. Despite bowing out in Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens, the vibes are high.

In this series, we’ll take a look at each player in the program and give him a grade based on his production and the intangibles that don’t make the stat sheet. Today, we start with one of the most recognizable and productive players on the roster: Tage Thompson.

Production

On paper, his numbers are the best he’s had since coming off the 2022-23 season. Thompson scored 40 goals, the third time in four seasons that he managed to score 40 points. That put him a few goals outside the top ten, and he’s been a constant threat to do so.

Thompson has also found more of a playmaking side to his game, especially on the floor. He registered 41 assists, the second most of his career. When opponents attacked him, he managed to stay dangerous by getting his teammates full of ice.

Thompson has always had a very dangerous shot in the game and it shows in the 198 goals he has scored in 392 games since the start of the 2021-22 season. Now that he’s added that game, he’s become a point-per-game threat that can carry a good team like the Sabres.

The intangible

One of the absolute reasons the Sabers have taken such a remarkable step forward this season is their overall attitude. Culture, as some call it. They just got tired of losing and showed a level of drive and fight that had never been seen before. Thompson is perhaps one of the most notable to take that step.

In the past, Thompson could disappear to recover, which is impressive given his 6-foot-6 frame. He had a few more in 2025-26, using his size more effectively and finding other ways to contribute when shots didn’t find the back of the net.

Although he has struggled at times in the playoffs, Thompson has been impressive in the playoffs. He led the team with 15 points in 13 games, playing with a level of intensity that has been unusual for him in the past.

Overall Grade: A-

For someone who scored 44 goals last season, the 2025-26 campaign was a marked step forward for Thompson. He continued his goalscoring pace while taking a noticeable step forward as a playmaker and developing a real “oomph” to his game.

It should also be noted that he played the most nights of his career, 19:15 per game. That added burden shouldn’t be overlooked, especially since he’s logged the second most points per game of his career.

Thompson is in the prime of his career offensively and is headed for something decent in terms of his two-way game. He won’t be a Selke Trophy candidate again, but he’s no longer the liability he was and the Sabers are much better for it.

Can He Continue to Grow in 2026-27?

On the outside, Thompson feels like a mature leader. You want more than simple production. While it would be nice to have running mate Alex Tuch back, that’s far from a given. If the Sabers are going to continue to compete, they will be relying heavily on Thompson to be one of the go-to forwards.