Tage
Thompson
C · BUF · Offensive · Excellent
- PAL
- 84
- WAR
- 2.7
- Value
- 70
- PTS
- 81
2025-26№ 40 / 615
Tage Thompson (Buffalo Sabres) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Tage Thompson
#72CPlays: Centre · 52% of faceoffs
Buffalo Sabres
HEIGHT : 198 cm · WEIGHT : 100 kg · SHOOTS : R
Born : October 29, 1997 · Phoenix, United States
Drafted : 2016 · STL · round 1, pick #26
Contract : $7,142,857 · 2023-24 → 2029-30 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFA · Signing bonus $2,000,000M-NTC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Buffalo Sabres | 17 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 6 |
| 2025-26 | Buffalo Sabres | 81 | 40 | 41 | 81 | 35 |
| 2024-25 | Buffalo Sabres | 76 | 44 | 28 | 72 | 35 |
| 2023-24 | Buffalo Sabres | 71 | 29 | 27 | 56 | 43 |
| 2022-23 | Buffalo Sabres | 78 | 47 | 47 | 94 | 39 |
| 2021-22 | Buffalo Sabres | 78 | 38 | 30 | 68 | 37 |
| 2020-21 | Buffalo Sabres | 38 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 17 |
| 2019-20 | Buffalo Sabres | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | Buffalo Sabres | 65 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 20 |
| 2017-18 | St. Louis Blues | 41 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| NHL totals | 546 | 226 | 199 | 425 | 244 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Buffalo Sabres | 13 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 22 |
| Playoff totals | 13 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 22 | |
Tage Thompson: our analysis
2025-26 season: 81 GP, 40 G, 41 A, 81 PTS, -6 +/-, 19:15 TOI. WAR 2.7 (40th of 615) · PAL 84, excellent.
In 2025-26, Tage Thompson, 29, posts a PAL Rating of 84 out of 100 (excellent), and his WAR of 2.7 ranks 40th among 615 regulars, in the top quarter.
His strengths: shooting (96, among the best in the league), offense (94, among the best in the league) and creation (89, among the best in the league). On the other hand, defense (10, among the weakest in the league) and penalty kill (12, among the weakest in the league) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: finishing (+6.6); his biggest cost: EV defense (-3.4).
A season in line with 2024-25 (PAL of 84); his WAR went from 4.9 to 2.7.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 70 (good value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Tage Thompson's story
Born in Phoenix but raised moving around the United States, Tage Thompson grew up in a hockey household and attended many schools before finishing high school early to accommodate his college plans. He sharpened his skills with the US National Development Program in the USHL, a stepping stone that led him into NCAA competition and onto the radar of NHL scouts.
Thompson committed to the University of Connecticut, where he made an immediate impact as a freshman and followed with a strong sophomore campaign, finishing as the Huskies' leading goal scorer. Those college seasons, plus his time with U.S. junior teams, resulted in his selection in the first round, 26th overall, by the St. Louis Blues in the 2016 draft. After his sophomore year he left UConn and signed a three-year entry-level contract with St. Louis on 7 March 2017, then joined the Chicago Wolves of the AHL on an amateur tryout to close out that season.
He reached the NHL level in October 2017, debuting with the Blues and scoring his first NHL goal later that year. Less than a year after breaking in, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres on 1 July 2018 as part of a multi-player deal. In Buffalo Thompson gradually transformed into the club's offensive engine: a three-year extension came in 2020, and after a breakout 2021–22 campaign he secured a long-term, seven-year $50 million contract signed on August 30.
Thompson's 2022–23 campaign was marked by several standout individual nights — multiple six-point efforts, a five-goal game that tied the Sabres' single-game record, and four hat-tricks in the season — and he earned an All-Star invitation that he could not attend because of injury. Production varied afterward, with a notable dip the following season, but he remained a central figure in Buffalo's attack and a primary option on the top line during his peak years.
Internationally, he played a key role for the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, scoring the overtime winner in the final to secure the nation's first gold at that event since 1933. He was also named to the U.S. Olympic roster for 2026 and appeared in the tournament, playing through a foot injury in the final rounds. On the ice, Thompson is known for a heavy, hard shot and an ability to generate high goal totals from the center position.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 19:23
- PP TOI/GP
- 3:36
- SH TOI/GP
- 0:01
- Pts/GP
- 1.12
- EV points
- 14
- Hits
- 11
- Blocks
- 10
- Takeaways
- 4
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 50.9 %
- Off. zone starts
- 39.2 %
- Faceoffs
- 43.5 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
83between 60 and 99 (80% range)
- Goals
- 41
- Assists
- 42
- Games
- 81
So far: 19 pts in 17 games. The team has played 17 of 84 games. Projected pace: 1.00 pts per game (last season: 1.00).
Three straight seasons of growth. Since 2018, of 97 players in that spot, 23 kept improving the next season; on average, their pace fell back to 90% of their best season.
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
Trend
Slightly up
- Points per game: 0.79 in 23-24, 1.00 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 84 → 84
Outlook, age included
↗ Slightly upAge 28: prime years
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 84 %
84
Very good
- SK
- Skating
- 77
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 83
- Confidence 87 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 85
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 85
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 74
- Confidence 87 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 81
- Confidence 65 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 82
- Confidence 87 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 61
- Confidence 89 %
- PA
- Passing
- 85
- Confidence 84 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 93
- Confidence 84 %
- DF
- Defense
- 59
- Confidence 82 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 54
- Confidence 60 %
- EX
- Experience
- 78
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating77
- Top speed (35 %)36.5 · 81
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)6.261 · 76
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.1 · 69
- Speed consistency (15 %)35.4 · 74
ST — Strength83
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)3.203 · 66
- Body mass (50 %)1.368 · 93
EN — Endurance85
- Ice time per game (45 %)17.5 · 84
- Total ice time (20 %)1,487 · 88
- Shift length (15 %)47.1 · 80
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)16.5 · 85
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)3.284 · 82
DU — Durability85
- Share of games played (100 %)0.871 · 85
CK — Checking74
- Hits /60 (70 %)3.499 · 73
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)2.698 · 72
- Season volume (10 %)4.454 · 79
FG — Fighting81
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)1.013 · 81
DI — Discipline82
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)0.044 · 83
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.56 · 78
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.819 · 78
FO — Faceoffs61
- Faceoff % (85 %)45.6 · 60
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)35.4 · 72
PA — Passing85
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.962 · 86
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.543 · 78
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.181 · 85
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)5.177 · 84
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.73 · 85
SC — Scoring93
- Goals /60 (25 %)1.571 · 97
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)1.121 · 89
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)1.414 · 95
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.531 · 83
- xG per shot (10 %)0.077 · 55
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)21 · 98
DF — Defense59
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)-0.125 · 57
- Relative xG against (20 %)0.219 · 61
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.867 · 58
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)-0.058 · 68
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.238 · 78
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)60 · 64
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.032 · 64
PS — Penalty shot54
- Shootouts (60 %)29.5 · 50
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience78
- Career regular-season games (65 %)88
- Career playoff games (25 %)50
- NHL seasons (10 %)78
OV — Overall84
- SC · Scoring (20 %)93
- PA · Passing (20 %)85
- DF · Defense (20 %)59
- SK · Skating (12 %)77
- FO · Faceoffs (10 %)61
- EN · Endurance (8 %)85
- DI · Discipline (5 %)82
- ST · Strength (3 %)83
- CK · Checking (2 %)74
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 84 | 77 | 93 | 59 |
| 2024-25 | 81 | 76 | 93 | 61 |
| 2023-24 | 80 | 75 | 90 | 60 |
| 2022-23 | 90 | 75 | 97 | 47 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
2.7
wins above replacement
40 of 615
PAL Rating
84/ 100
Performance · Excellent
68 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
70/ 100
Good value
7.14 M$ · expected PAL 70
ProfileOffensiveValue comes mostly from offense
- Offense
- 92
- Defense
- 11
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 94
- Creation
- 89
- Shooting
- 96
- Possession
- 44
- Defense
- 10
- Discipline
- 85
- Power play
- 88
- Penalty kill
- 12
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | BUF | 2.7 | 84 | 70 | 7.14 M$ |
| 2024-25 | BUF | 4.9 | 84 | 68 | 7.14 M$ |
| 2023-24 | BUF | 1.5 | 60 | 30 | 7.14 M$ |
| 2022-23 | BUF | 3.6 | 91 | 94 | 1.40 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2025-26
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
82/ 100
Very good
better than 82% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
52/ 100
Average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
89/ 100
Very good
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Overall IQ isn't an average of the two scores: it's the player's rank with offense and defense combined, 75 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 64
- Shot selection
- 29
- Penalties drawn
- 60
- Puck management
- 78
Defense
- Takeaways
- 62
- Discipline
- 56
- Safe zone exits
- 98
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
| Season | Team | IQ | Off. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | BUF | 82 | 52 | 89 |
| 2024-25 | BUF | 51 | 15 | 84 |
| 2023-24 | BUF | 54 | 27 | 76 |
| 2022-23 | BUF | 77 | 88 | 44 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
2.7
wins above replacement
0.8 to 4.1 — 90% interval
40 of 615 forwards
+14.3 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- +4.3
- EV defense
- -3.4
- Power play
- +1.5
- Penalty kill
- -0.0
- Shooting
- +6.6
- Penalties
- +1.5
- Average → replacement
- +3.9
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | BUF | 81 | 2.7 | 0.8 to 4.1 | 40/615 |
| 2024-25 | BUF | 72 | 4.9 | 2.9 to 6.9 | 6/596 |
| 2023-24 | BUF | 71 | 1.5 | 0.4 to 4.3 | 98/608 |
| 2022-23 | BUF | 78 | 3.6 | 1.1 to 6.9 | 17/617 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 161.2 km/h100th percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 36.5 km/h85th percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 5094th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 43.1 %63rd percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 78.0 km83rd percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 5.69 km86th percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 39.7 %25th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.8 %81st percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 38.1 %69th percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 6899th percentile | 1098th percentile | 14.7 %58th percentile |
| High danger | 1589th percentile | 596th percentile | 33.3 %85th percentile |
| Mid range | 2799th percentile | 498th percentile | 14.8 %58th percentile |
| Long range | 898th percentile | 092nd percentile | 0.0 %87th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
VGK
CBJ
OTT
LAK
ANA
SJS
WSH
PHI
MTL
TOR
FLA
UTA
DAL
MIN
CHITage Thompson: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Tage Thompson have in 2026-27?
Tage Thompson has 10 goals and 19 points (9 assists) in 17 games in 2026-27.
How old is Tage Thompson?
Tage Thompson is 29 years old: he was born on October 30, 1997.
How tall is Tage Thompson, and how much does he weigh?
Tage Thompson is 6'6" (198 cm) and weighs 220 lb (100 kg).
Where is Tage Thompson from?
United States: Tage Thompson was born in Phoenix, Arizona, United States.
What team does Tage Thompson play for?
Tage Thompson plays for the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL, at C, wearing number 72.
Is Tage Thompson injured?
No: Tage Thompson is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Tage Thompson?
Tage Thompson produced 2.7 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 40th of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 84 out of 100: excellent for his position.
How much does Tage Thompson make?
Tage Thompson earns $7.1M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 70 out of 100 (good value): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Tage Thompson's contract end?
Tage Thompson's contract runs through the 2029-30 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a M-NTC clause.
Is Tage Thompson overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 70 out of 100 (good value), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Tage Thompson a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 40th of 615 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Tage Thompson getting better?
He is holding steady: his PAL rating went from 84 in 2024-25 to 84 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Tage Thompson played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Tage Thompson has 12 points (6 goals, 6 assists).
What are Tage Thompson's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Tage Thompson has 546 games, 226 goals, 199 assists and 425 points. His best season: 2022-23, with 94 points in 78 games.
Where was Tage Thompson drafted?
Tage Thompson was drafted 26th overall (round 1) by St. Louis Blues in 2016.
Is Tage Thompson better at home or on the road?
On the road: in 2026-27, he averages 1.00 points per game at home (9 in 9 games) and 1.25 on the road (10 in 8 games).
How does Tage Thompson perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Tage Thompson has 13 games and 15 points in his career. His pace (1.15 points per game) is higher than his regular-season pace (0.78).
Which player is most similar to Tage Thompson?
Filip Forsberg: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Filip Forsberg's page →Is Tage Thompson a good fantasy pick?
Yes, a top-tier pick: our projection has him at 83 points in 2026-27, or 1.02 points per game.
Does Tage Thompson have siblings?
Yes: his brother Tyce Thompson (forward for Barys Astana of the KHL; had a brief NHL stint with the New Jersey Devils).
Is Tage Thompson related to anyone famous?
Yes: Brent Thompson (father, Canadian former NHL player and long-time assistant coach in the ECHL, AHL and NHL; was a member of the Phoenix Coyotes organization at the time of Tage's birth).
Is Tage Thompson married?
Yes, married to Rachel in July 2021.
What is Tage Thompson's nationality?
Tage Thompson is American. Internationally: United States — Gold medal at the 2025 IIHF World Championship (scored the overtime game-winning goal); Gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics; Gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship (his second gold medal, tournament year not specified in the article).
What awards has Tage Thompson won?
Selected to the 2023 NHL All-Star Game (was replaced due to injury).
How many championships has Tage Thompson won?
3: 2025 IIHF World Championship — Gold medal with the United States (scored the overtime game-winning goal); 2026 Winter Olympics — Gold medal with the United States; IIHF World Junior Championship — Gold medal (his second gold medal, year not specified in the article).
What is Tage Thompson's nickname?
He is nicknamed TNT.
Where did Tage Thompson play before turning pro?
U.S. National Development Team (USHL); University of Connecticut (collegiate hockey, 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons).
How many points is Tage Thompson projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 83 points in 81 games in 2026-27 (60 to 99 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Buffalo Sabres teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)