Tage Thompson

Right now, somebody in every front office around the NHL is looking at Thompson's season and wondering what it means for them.

[leaving the team and the NHL](https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/patrik-berglunds-decision-walk-away-nhl-no-decision/). [Alex DeBrincat](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/alex-debrincat-xUOmp8WbHv0THZFX/) and [Carter Hart](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/carter-hart-DWQbOv1tqdUpBou7/) who had a more immediate impact. The main lesson is that everyone needs to stop being mean to you and start having more patience, because your draft busts are good and your worst trades were brilliant. But the Sabres basically gave the Blues a Stanley Cup in exchange for a handful of magic beans. Just because your team’s GM traded away one of your only good players for a bunch of guys who haven’t done anything to make the team better doesn’t mean it was a bad deal. In exchange, they sent [Ryan O’Reilly](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/ryan-oreilly-WuR6jIoZSgCoFDOL/) to St. [Blues](https://theathletic.com/nhl/team/blues/) that also included Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka and two draft picks. [Sabres’](https://theathletic.com/nhl/team/sabres/) forward has become the star of the season. At least, it’s good until you get a few years down the line and that first-round pick isn’t contributing yet. They probably jump right to the top of your prospect list, and fans immediately start reciting their names as proof that the future is bright. He has 21 goals through 28 games, several of the [jaw-dropping highlight variety](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIxJlOtTXIg), and scored five against the [Blue Jackets](https://theathletic.com/nhl/team/blue-jackets/) last week in what was also his second six-point game of the year. The Sabres didn’t listen, and locked up Thompson to a seven-year, $49 million extension.

Tage Thompson's remarkable five-goal, six-point game in Columbus earned the Buffalo Sabres center another accolade Monday. Thompson was named the NHL's ...

Amid his second season playing center, Thompson leads the Sabres in goals (21), points (41) and shots on goal (130). He is the second skater in Sabres history to record multiple six-point games, joining Pat LaFontaine (1992-93). Defenseman [Rasmus Dahlin](https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/sabres-rasmus-dahlin-named-nhls-first-star-of-the-week-for-record-run/article_31a232de-53bf-11ed-a3b5-2be4526cfac8.html) was named the first star of the week on Oct. He represented Czechia at the last world junior championships, which were moved to August because of Covid-19 cases. "Obviously, he's had a great week ," said Sabres winger Jeff Skinner, a linemate of Thompson's. By scoring five goals, including four in the first 16:40 of the first period in Columbus, Thompson became only the second player in franchise history to reach that mark in a single game. Dave Andreychuk scored five for the Sabres in an 8-6 win in Boston on Feb. He finished with five goals and an assist with nine shots on goal in only 13:56 of ice time. You take a look back now and kind of enjoy it, but at the same time, you’ve got to move on. They’re separating themselves from their peers around the league with help of their teammates here, and I think it’s a good indicator that our collective game is improving when you have three different players in that situation. [Dylan Cozens](https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/sabres-notebook-dylan-cozens-nhl-second-star-award-shines-focus-on-his-offensive-surge/article_8a503950-758c-11ed-b655-338ef31b6138.html)' selection as the NHL's second star last Monday. He would have taken the top spot had it not been for a quiet two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins to end the week.