Tage Thompson is walking into the 2026-27 season with the spotlight turned all the way up.
That’s what happens when a team loses one of its top finishers and expects the offense to keep humming anyway. Alex Tuch is gone to the Washington Capitals, and Buffalo’s margin for error on the scoring front looks thinner because of it. Thompson, who was one of just three Sabres players with more than 60 points last season, suddenly carries even more of the load.
He already showed what that burden can look like at its best. In the first game of the opening round of the 2026 NHL Playoffs, Buffalo trailed Boston 2-0 in the third period before Thompson took over.
He scored twice in quick succession and helped spark a 4-3 comeback win over the Bruins. The Sabres went on to win the series, and Thompson’s production was a major reason the year finished the way it did.
His regular season was strong, too. Thompson put up 81 points, his best total since the breakout 2022-23 campaign. That kind of output matters even more now, with the Sabres trying to replace Tuch’s scoring and keep the offense from stalling early in the year.
Buffalo did bring in left winger Conor Sheary, but he had only 18 points for the New York Rangers last season. That’s part of why the pressure is squarely on Thompson to remain the team’s main goal scorer.
He has proven he can rise to that role. He has also had stretches where the goals dry up.
In the postseason, he went seven games without scoring, though he still managed to contribute some assists. If he keeps driving the attack, it could open things up for the Sabres’ other wingers and centers.
There is at least some stability in the situation. Thompson is signed with the Sabres through 2030, so Buffalo is not looking to move on from him anytime soon. That long-term security could help him play with a little more freedom, especially compared with last year, when Tuch’s contract situation made everything feel more uncertain.
The Sabres may need to find a new running mate for Thompson, though. He and Tuch connected well at times, and now Buffalo has to figure out who fits best alongside him. Jiří Kulich is one possibility, and if Thompson ends up on the wing, that pairing could create chances.
However it shakes out, the assignment is clear: Buffalo needs more offense if it wants to match last season’s success. And if Thompson doesn’t start fast, the noise around him will only get louder.
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Sabres Now Face A Bigger Problem Than Replacing Alex Tuch
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The real challenge now is figuring out who absorbs all of that responsibility. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin are the obvious veteran anchors, but Buffalo also needs younger forwards like Jack Quinn, Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius to keep taking steps forward. The Sabres can patch together minutes and points, but replacing Tuchs presence will take more than simply sliding another name into his place. [Read more 🡒]