The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Tage Thompson to a seven-year, $50MM extension beginning in the 2023-24 season. The contract has a cap hit of $7.143MM and runs through 2030-2031.
General manager Kevyn Adams spoke on the deal:
Tage Thompson embodies the pride we expect from every player who wears the Buffalo Sabres sweater. His success last season is a testament to his unrelenting dedication to his craft and commitment to bettering the team both on and off the ice, which we believe will help us reach even greater heights moving forward. We are thrilled to extend Tage, keeping him and his family in Buffalo for many years to come.
Thompson, who will turn 25 in October, exploded for a breakout campaign in 2021-22. Playing in 78 games, Thompson shattered his previous single-digit career-highs in goals and assists, tallying 38 goals and 30 assists for 68 points. Widely credited due to the coaching of Don Granato and moving Thompson to center, he flourished in what was a promising year for him and the team overall.
He’ll need to keep up that pace now, though. More than $7MM per season is a massive commitment for one season of more than 15 points, but it could end up being a bargain just the same if he improves on those numbers. Any opinion of the deal will solely rely on one’s opinion of Thompson’s ceiling and how much development one thinks he has left.
In any event, Thompson is the team’s number one center for the long haul now. He heads up a deep group of young centers that includes Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs, Casey Mittelstadt, and Matthew Savoie, who all have the potential to be long-term, high-end top-nine fixtures for Buffalo.
It also gives the Sabres a degree of financial certainty that they’ve lacked in recent years. Forced to take on contracts purely to get to the salary cap’s spending floor, deals like Thompson’s given to young players instead of bloated free agent deals are a smarter way of managing money as Buffalo exits their rebuild.
Thompson will be 33 when the deal expires, meaning this will take Thompson all the way through his prime, in all likelihood.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was first to report Thompson and the Sabres were close on an extension.
Hope it works out for them but that is one massive bet to make off of one good season.
All contracts are somewhat of a bet against injuries or production. Tage has a very good hard shot that should help him score 30+ goals (health permitting) going forward.
Six years In the league and one good season, The sample size of success Is far to small to garner this kind of deal.
Not every player steps into the league & busts out immediately. Any contract extension has that risk. Look at the Stars with Seguin & Benn getting paid $9+mil per +.
Not shocking Wilf, that you don’t understand sports contracts.
Wrongo
I looked him up and I see 5 years in the league and only 24 years old? Looks like they locked up a young guy early, rather than what you make it seem like a veteran, and who’s only had only one good year?
Nice young player but that’s a gamble in a half.
Yeah, that’s Kevin Hayes money right there.
It is a big bet, not sure I would have made it just yet, but…it’s still probably a good bet.
Big, rifle shot, moves well for his size. Lot to like in this player.
Oh yeah. Very exciting piece for Buffalo. Hope for them he stays that way.
Congrats to Tage, perseverance pays off kids!
Great use of money. Shows the others on the team if they work hard they will be compensated. Keep building from within!!!
I like your take on this. Hope the rest of the group follows his lead. And that Tage continues his growth.
Also he’s only 24 so he’ll be 31 at the end of the deal and hopefully still producing.
This is an extension, the article clearly says he’ll be 33 when it expires.
This will be the new 2nd line C price. Kadri…Tage…sure he’s Buffalo number 1 but let’s be honest
One good NHL season and I could’ve been set for life. Sigh. :/
Hm. They’ll have the money, anyway. Okposo’s contract comes off the books next summer, and while he had a bit of a bounceback season last year, he monumentally ripped Buffalo off for the production he was giving them the previous five seasons — even if they keep him, I can’t imagine them paying him more than a third what he’s making now.
Further evidence of a a consistent theme in this thread – all contracts involve risk.
Will be on the trade block in less than 3 years from now…Toooo long of deal but could be sucked into keeping him…
How do you know that he will be on the trade block in three years?
Most of these kids have one or two years of production get big contract then flop…so its my opinion…stay tuned….
Tage has a good shot & he is 6’7″ so it probably took him time to grow & develop into his body. As long as Tage scores 30-40 goals & gets around 70 points this contract will age well.
Skinner part 2
Skinner has bounced back through good coaching.
UCONN!