And prior to that he had just 18 goals in 145 NHL games. You kind of have to take in the full picture.

OR

You wait and see what he is THIS season, and sign accordingly instead of negotiating the extension now when his value might be at its highest. The guy might never hit 30 goals again. It's a big, unnecessary gamble.
- BINGO!

And if he gets 40+ this year? we'd be paying an extra 2 million at least. 2 sides to the coin.

Its a fair gamble with the cap rising soon enough.

Norris just got almost a mil more for way less production

And if he gets 40+ this year? we'd be paying an extra 2 million at least. 2 sides to the coin.

Its a fair gamble with the cap rising soon enough.

Norris just got almost a mil more for way less production
- DirtyDan

So what? Then you pay the extra and be happy for it. Would you rather be paying a 35-40 goal guy $9 million or a 15-20 goal scorer $7 million?

And if he gets 40+ this year? we'd be paying an extra 2 million at least. 2 sides to the coin.

Its a fair gamble with the cap rising soon enough.

Norris just got almost a mil more for way less production
- DirtyDan

chuck

it will be interesting to see where Tage goes from here.. if he continues to grow it will be a still if he regresses we will have two terrible contracts on this team between him and skinner

And if he gets 40+ this year? we'd be paying an extra 2 million at least. 2 sides to the coin.

Its a fair gamble with the cap rising soon enough.

Norris just got almost a mil more for way less production
- DirtyDan

Also a questionable contract.

So what? Then you pay the extra and be happy for it. Would you rather be paying a 35-40 goal guy $9 million or a 15-20 goal scorer $7 million?
- BINGO!

we are paying a 20-30 goal guy that already....

And if he gets 40+ this year? we'd be paying an extra 2 million at least. 2 sides to the coin.

Its a fair gamble with the cap rising soon enough.

Norris just got almost a mil more for way less production
- DirtyDan

Josh Norris is also nearly two years younger and had as many points in 56 games in 20-21 as Thompson had in his ENTIRE CAREER leading up to last season.

What....?

- DirtyDan

I dont understand how thats confusing. We dont know what Tage Thompson is.

Is he last years Tage, or is he two years ago Tage, or is he somewhere in the middle.

The Sabres need that to be Last year and better than last Year tage.

Josh Norris is also nearly two years younger and had as many points in 56 games in 20-21 as Thompson had in his ENTIRE CAREER leading up to last season.
- BINGO!

It took Couts 6 seasons to get 30 goals and be a near ppg player.

This is a major overaction

Also a questionable contract.
- ImThatGuy

Norris .833 points per game last season, .72 over his career.

Thompson .872 points per game last season, .462 over his career.

both are a bit rich but I'd bet more on Norris too.

So what? Then you pay the extra and be happy for it. Would you rather be paying a 35-40 goal guy $9 million or a 15-20 goal scorer $7 million?
- BINGO!

and if he lights it up this year and scores 40 what if he decides he wants to test out Free Agency and only will sign a 1 year deal to take him to UFA?

Same thing that happened with Reinhart here.

There was risk in signing him now, there was risk financially waiting a year for the team, and there was even risk of him wanting to get to UFA status.

Nothing about this contract was black and white other than the ink and paper. There were a lot of moving parts.

I would have preferred around $6-$6.25 million but it is what it is.

Completely agree 2 mil too much and 2 years too long.

In would have preferred 5 years at 6 mil
- BeadyEyedDouche

Then he refuses to sign, holds out a year, pops 35 this year and wants 9x7. We cannot afford. Then he’s a Ranger

Norris .833 points per game last season, .72 over his career.

Thompson .872 points per game last season, .462 over his career.

both are a bit rich but I'd bet more on Norris too.
- BINGO!

Going by career #'s is a joke. Every player develops differently. Some come into the league tearing it up. Some take 5 years.

I'll bet the house Tage has a similar season to last.

It took Couts 6 seasons to get 30 goals and be a near ppg player.

This is a major overaction

- DirtyDan

I agree. Look at Tages seasons too. His
First real season was last year

Laughable a Hurricane fan is arguing about bad contracts.

They signed a anti-Semite last year

So what? Then you pay the extra and be happy for it. Would you rather be paying a 35-40 goal guy $9 million or a 15-20 goal scorer $7 million?
- BINGO!

Last year his production was pretty close to Aho, but Tage was playing on a crap team at a new position. I'm pretty comfy with this deal. Similar age players but I'd say there is prolly more upside to TT to grow into his role and for the Sabres to improve.

https://twitter.com/Buffa...tatus/1564994193000374278


NOVEMBER!?!?!?!?!

It took Couts 6 seasons to get 30 goals and be a near ppg player.

This is a major overaction

- DirtyDan

The (frank) does Sean Couturier have to do with anything?

He had 400 games under his belt and wasn't widely regarded as one of the worst players in the league prior to that first big year.

He also didn't get his big $7.75 deal until last year, when he had already posted two 30+ goal seasons, and that contract STILL looks like it might be a problem very soon.

Laughable a Hurricane fan is arguing about bad contracts.

They signed a anti-Semite last year
- DirtyDan

Yeah I was definitely happy they signed that POS. For sure.

Last year his production was pretty close to Aho, but Tage was playing on a crap team at a new position. I'm pretty comfy with this deal. Similar age players but I'd say there is prolly more upside to TT to grow into his role and for the Sabres to improve.
- LandlordTom

Exactly!

Let’s break it down for the hockey experts who hate the deal
Given no chance in St. Louis, traded to Buffalo
Played 60 games first year here on an abomination of a team, getting barely bottom six minutes
Didn’t play
Mostly played in minors
Worked his ass off in off season, crushed it in camp in new position, had almost 40 goal season,
Got paid.

and if he lights it up this year and scores 40 what if he decides he wants to test out Free Agency and only will sign a 1 year deal to take him to UFA?

Same thing that happened with Reinhart here.

There was risk in signing him now, there was risk financially waiting a year for the team, and there was even risk of him wanting to get to UFA status.

Nothing about this contract was black and white other than the ink and paper. There were a lot of moving parts.

I would have preferred around $6-$6.25 million but it is what it is.
- Stripes77

that's basically what I'm saying too. I think it's too much for too long because of the risk involved. Not to take anything away from Thompson himself, I just wouldn't have made this bet.

Sabres wearing the goathead on Miller retirement night...

Edit: I am wrong wearing it the game after his retirement night

Last year his production was pretty close to Aho, but Tage was playing on a crap team at a new position. I'm pretty comfy with this deal. Similar age players but I'd say there is prolly more upside to TT to grow into his role and for the Sabres to improve.
- LandlordTom

We're talking about a difference of 13 points in one fewer game.

They were both born in 1997. Aho in July, TT in October.

Thompson had a great year but it's a litttttle early to be comparing him to a guy the same age but with 4 point-per-game seasons under his belt already, no?

Exactly!

Let’s break it down for the hockey experts who hate the deal
Given no chance in St. Louis, traded to Buffalo
Played 60 games first year here on an abomination of a team, getting barely bottom six minutes
Didn’t play
Mostly played in minors
Worked his ass off in off season, crushed it in camp in new position, had almost 40 goal season,
Got paid.
- lulags

Eichel was not a Thompson fan...at least that's what I was told by someone who worked for the Amerks.

https://twitter.com/BuffaloSabres/status/1564994193000374278


NOVEMBER!?!?!?!?!
- Stripes77

The Sabres might not be great on the ice. But there social media team has always done a great job with videos. This is definitely a good fun video.