Report: the Canadiens could have stolen Tage Thompson from the Sabres for a 5th round pick

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MarcO
December 21, 2022 (9:11)

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This summer, the Buffalo Sabres gave a huge contract extension to forward Tage Thompson. He agreed to the terms of a 7-year deal worth $50M, or about $7.142M per season.

While it is true that he had a very good 2021-2022 season, many thought that it was just a flash in the pan and that the Sabres would regret it soon enough.

The current season of the 6-foot-6, 215-pound giant may very well silence his critics. In 32 games, he has scored 26 goals and 24 assists for a total of 50 points. He is now 3rd in goals and 4th in points in the league. His outstanding game on Wednesday night certainly helped to achieve these results.

This is to say that the big contract he got this summer could very well be a steal from the Sabres in a few years if he continues like this. Some GMs might start to regret not selecting him, who was drafted 26th overall in the 2016 draft. We remind you that the St. Louis Blues traded Thompson, two years after drafting him, to the Sabres along with several other players for the services of Ryan O'Reilly.

In this regard, it seems, according to what Elliotte Friedman reports, that the Sabres forward was once available for a fifth round pick at some point in his career...

Wow!

Even if we didn't know at the time that he would become so dominant, Marc Bergevin must regret not having dared. A certain team would have come very close to acquiring him.

One thing is for sure, if Bergevin had indeed managed to acquire Thompson for a 5th round pick, and that he would have had the same development with the CH, it would have been quite a steal from the former CH GM.

But rest assured, some think that the CH already has its Tage Thompson in Juraj Slafkovsky. Patience will be required with the young Slovakian.

Before he broke through, Thompson had a few tough seasons. His reading of the game, like Slafkovsky's, left something to be desired and his immense size did not help his fluidity. But time has been kind to him! Let's hope it will be the same for the CH's new sensation!

Via Fanadiens