Is Tage Thompson a winger?

[Carmel Corn]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Why isn't McLeod? His defensive metrics are good, his offense is decent. If they put him at 2c for a full season you might have a 50pt center thats good defensively which is exactly what you need. 

There's no chance in hell Adams is trading for a 2c this offseason. He doesn't have the guts because it would require him trading someone like Kulich or Peterka and then some to get that player. 

I agree that McLeod has shown something more than I expected this season.   If the choice were between Cozens and McLeod as our 2C, I would definitely agree that it's easily McLeod.  I can only say that I had a higher expectations of how Adams would construct the spine and that McLeod was brought in to be our 3C.  IMHO with TNT as a winger now, we are back to needing another top 6 center who has offensive/playmaking.  If it turns out to be McLeod, I agree with you that we could do worse.....but I also think we need an insurance policy (in case of injury) of another 2C or 3C who can play top 6. 

Also IMHO - I still see Kulich as a winger, not a center.

Edited 14 hours ago by Carmel Corn

[dudacek]

23 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

He should play first line, unfortunately his two way game as a center is not very good, especially against opponents top lines and top D pairs.

This may have been true once, but it’s not been the case this season.

His on-ice goals for percentage this year is 58.4% - those are very good 2-way numbers, tied with Point and just ahead of Draisaitl and Marner.

He consistently faces the other team’s best defenders and consistently wins those battles, despite playing for the Sabres.

https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?report=puckPossessions&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20242025&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=2&position=F&filter=timeOnIcePerGame5v5,gte,13&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,50&sort=goalsPct&page=0&pageSize=50

[Crusader1969]

5 hours ago, Sidc3000 said:

Way too early to think he could be that. That’s also if he stays healthy

Why is it too early?  The guy is 26 or 27 years of age 

if he meshes with Tage, you definitely have the 1C

I wonder if you offer Marner the opportunity to be a center his own line ( and $14 mill)? I'm assuming this would be something that would entice him 

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Why isn't McLeod? His defensive metrics are good, his offense is decent. If they put him at 2c for a full season you might have a 50pt center thats good defensively which is exactly what you need. 

There's no chance in hell Adams is trading for a 2c this offseason. He doesn't have the guts because it would require him trading someone like Kulich or Peterka and then some to get that player. 

I agree that McLeod and Kulich would be a decent 2/3 behind Norris 

[Crusader1969]

59 minutes ago, Mr. Allen said:

I know.  I was mostly joking.  I don’t think we will have a shot at him. 

Huh? The team is bottom 3/4 in the league.   They have a real good chance to get him 

[Sidc3000]

25 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

if he meshes with Tage, you definitely have the 1C

It takes time to for chemistry. We’ll see what happens. 🤷‍♂️

Edited 13 hours ago by Sidc3000

[Thorner]

39 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

I agree that McLeod and Kulich would be a decent 2/3 behind Norris 

 

35 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

Huh? The team is bottom 3/4 in the league.   They have a real good chance to get him 

 

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

This may have been true once, but it’s not been the case this season.

His on-ice goals for percentage this year is 58.4% - those are very good 2-way numbers, tied with Point and just ahead of Draisaitl and Marner.

He consistently faces the other team’s best defenders and consistently wins those battles, despite playing for the Sabres.

https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?report=puckPossessions&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20242025&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=2&position=F&filter=timeOnIcePerGame5v5,gte,13&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,50&sort=goalsPct&page=0&pageSize=50

Good to learn this.  Hoping he gets selected for the US Olympic team. 

[Mr. Allen]

40 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

Huh? The team is bottom 3/4 in the league.   They have a real good chance to get him 

I think he goes top 2, maybe 3.  And we miss out on him.  We’ll have a good pick, but I’m not sure if it’ll be top 3. 

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, xzy89c1 said:

the only player on this team who is an equivalent of a 1 type player is Dahlin as a first pair dman. We have no first line type players when compared to best players in the league. Thompson has a chance as a winger. Needs to improve consistency and 200 foot game. 

No, Thompson's definitely a top line winger now. Both him and Dahlin have reached their maturity level and are elite players. They should remain what they are into their 30's and then decline slowly as players do. 

The new guy has top line skills. The only thing about him that makes him questionable is the durability. If he stays healthy we have 2/3 of a top line. I doubt he stays healthy though. 

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, Mr. Allen said:

I think he goes top 2, maybe 3.  And we miss out on him.  We’ll have a good pick, but I’m not sure if it’ll be top 3. 

My gut says we end up with Hagens and this place melts down. 

[dudacek]

8 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

My gut says we end up with Hagens and this place melts down. 

This just seems inevitable.

[GASabresIUFAN]

It's kind of nice to be arguing that we have 4 possible legit centers for 3 jobs.  It's kinda of a nice problem to have.  This breads flexibility.  The next HC (Ruff or someone else) can mix and match to see which combos are affective.  Personally, I like TNT on the wing.  

Right now 7 of the top 9 forwards heading into next season are locked in with TNT, Tuch, JJP, Zucker, Kulich, Norris, and McLeod.   Beyond them are Greenway, Quinn, Benson and possibly Rosen fighting for the last 2 jobs in the top 9.  

[dudacek]

43 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

It's kind of nice to be arguing that we have 4 possible legit centers for 3 jobs.  It's kinda of a nice problem to have.  This breads flexibility.  The next HC (Ruff or someone else) can mix and match to see which combos are affective.  Personally, I like TNT on the wing.  

Right now 7 of the top 9 forwards heading into next season are locked in with TNT, Tuch, JJP, Zucker, Kulich, Norris, and McLeod.   Beyond them are Greenway, Quinn, Benson and possibly Rosen fighting for the last 2 jobs in the top 9.  

So basically the same forwards that matter as this year, except swapping Cozens for Norris?

Locked in? 

Are you saying this is what you like, or what Adams will do?

[GASabresIUFAN]

5 minutes ago, dudacek said:

So basically the same forwards that matter as this year, except swapping Cozens for Norris?

Locked in? 

Are you saying this is what you like, or what Adams will do?

Adams.  Tuch and TNT are under contract and are our best forwards.  Adams acquired Norris and McLeod.  He just re-signed Zucker and stated that JJP is a core player who isn’t on the trade market. Kulich is also one of Adams key draftees and truthfully his play this season has earned him an opportunity next year.  I’d say as long as Adams remains GM those 7 will certainly (barring injury) be in the top 9 next fall.  

[dudacek]

All four of these players have ES ATOI within 40 seconds of each other.

• Krebs ES points: 17; Goals For %: 46.3; SAT 50.9%; most common linemates Lafferty/Malenstyn
• Benson ES points: 18; Goals For % 46.7; SAT 55.7%; most common linemates Krebs/Quinn
• Kulich ES points: 19; Goals For % 50.0; SAT 52.1%; most common linemates Tage/Peterka
• Quinn ES points: 14; Goals For % 40.0; SAT 50.2%; most common linemates Peterka/Cozens

Benson’s shot attempt stats and Quinn’s +/- stick out, but I find it really hard to find compelling statistical evidence to support any of them as being significantly better than the others.

Particularly when linemates are taken into account.

Edited 5 hours ago by dudacek

[LGR4GM]

5 hours ago, dudacek said:

All four of these players have ES ATOI within 40 seconds of each other.

• Krebs ES points: 17; Goals For %: 46.3; SAT 50.9%; most common linemates Lafferty/Malenstyn
• Benson ES points: 18; Goals For % 46.7; SAT 55.7%; most common linemates Krebs/Quinn
• Kulich ES points: 19; Goals For % 50.0; SAT 52.1%; most common linemates Tage/Peterka
• Quinn ES points: 14; Goals For % 40.0; SAT 50.2%; most common linemates Peterka/Cozens

Benson’s shot attempt stats and Quinn’s +/- stick out, but I find it really hard to find compelling statistical evidence to support any of them as being significantly better than the others.

Particularly when linemates are taken into account.

Only one with a + xgf% is Benson.