The Buffalo Sabres’ playoff drought has reached 14 years, and the spotlight is back on Tage Thompson. Some around the league are wondering how long he’ll keep pushing through without results.
Will Tage Thompson’s Patience With the Sabres Eventually Run Out?
On “The Sheet” podcast, Jeff Marek didn’t hold back. He said there’s a limit to how many losing seasons a player can endure before it starts to eat at him. “If you’re Tage Thompson, and it’s the same thing all over again, what do you do? Like you’re really going to hand over another season,” Marek said.
Greg Wyshynski agreed, pointing to Ryan O’Reilly’s exit in 2018. O’Reilly admitted he lost his love for the game, and Buffalo had no choice but to move him. That deal, of course, brought Thompson into the organization.
The fear now is that history repeats itself. Marek suggested Thompson could find himself in the same spot of being worn down, tired of waiting, and looking elsewhere. “There’s only so long you can do this, where it’s like really detrimental to your career to say nothing of your mental health,” he warned.
“There’s only so long you can do this where it’s really detrimental to your career”@JeffMarek and @wyshynski discuss the Sabres’ uphill battle and the risk of losing star Tage Thompson’s motivation to stay in Buffalo…
Presented by @FanDuelCanada #TheSheet #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/IgFoYmsYMN
— The Sheet with Jeff Marek (@thesheethockey) September 23, 2025
Thompson hasn’t slowed down. He scored 44 goals and added 72 points in the 2024 season. Two years ago, he nearly hit 100 points and looked like one of the league’s elite scorers.
The problem is that his production hasn’t translated into team success. Buffalo still sits outside the playoff picture. Younger players like Jack Quinn are expected to help change that. Quinn posted 39 points in 2024 and is being counted on to take another step.
The Sabres need that kind of growth if they want to keep their core from losing faith.
Thompson is locked in on a long-term deal of seven years, just under $50 million. At a $7.1 million cap hit, it’s one of the more team-friendly contracts in the NHL for a player of his caliber. But a bargain deal doesn’t mean much if a star grows restless. Other big names have walked for less.
Fuel From the International Stage
Thompson isn’t hiding how he felt about being left off Team USA’s final roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year. “When I received the news, obviously it sucked,” Thompson admitted to ESPN.
Read More: ‘It Sucked’ – Sabres’ Tage Thompson Makes Feelings Clear On Team USA Snub At 4 Nations
He eventually joined the roster as an injury replacement for the championship game, but never saw the ice before Connor McDavid scored in overtime to seal gold for Canada.
Thompson says the snub has become a source of motivation as he looks ahead to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina. The 6’6” forward explained that he’s tried to round out his game, pointing to his ability to contribute in multiple roles, from power play and penalty kill to a more defensive assignment if needed.
“I believe I can do any of those roles the best,” Thompson said, emphasizing his confidence in fitting into whatever slot the national team requires.
Keeping Thompson engaged means proving progress is real for the Sabres. The scoring will come, but if the team does not start climbing the standings, the noise around his future will only grow louder.
