Let’s get one thing straight—the phones are ringing in Kevyn Adams’ office about Tage Thompson, but we should not confuse “due diligence” with a “fire sale.”
Yes, the Buffalo Sabres are struggling. Yes, the 14-year playoff drought feels heavier than ever. And yes, opportunistic GMs from contending teams are circling like vultures, checking the price on Buffalo’s crown jewel. Can you blame them?
But the reports that Adams “insists” Thompson isn’t available are the understatement of the season.
Moving Thompson now wouldn’t just be rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic; it would be lighting the entire ship on fire and handing the matches to the rest of the Atlantic Division. It’s simply not happening, and here’s the inside perspective on why this “noise” is just that—noise.
First, let’s look at the current roster situation with clear eyes. This isn’t a foundational collapse; it’s a short-term crisis. You cannot fairly judge the core of this team when the medical chart is this full. With Josh Norris, Jiri Kulich, and Zach Benson on the shelf alongside veteran Jason Zucker, the offensive depth is depleted. Add your captain and best defenseman, Rasmus Dahlin, being on a leave of absence, and you have the perfect recipe for the exact skid Buffalo is on. Kevyn Adams knows this. He’s not going to blow up the blueprint because of a brutal stretch fueled by unavailable players.
Why Trading Thompson Makes Zero Sense for Adams
Kevyn Adams is arguably on the hottest seat in the NHL. That 14-year drought is a franchise killer. But making a panic deal, especially one involving your franchise center, is the fastest way to get fired. Trading Thompson signals a complete, tear-it-down-to-the-studs rebuild—something this fanbase simply cannot and will not endure again. Adams is turning to the youth movement to weather this storm because he has to.
Furthermore, he knows the trade market is thin. There are very few “sellers” right now, meaning he can’t acquire a piece that would realistically save this specific season anyway. He’s holding his assets, as he should.
The “Untouchable” Status of Tage Thompson
Let’s talk about the player himself. Tage Thompson is a 6’6″ center who has proven he can flirt with 50 goals. Players like that are unicorns. They are franchise cornerstones, not trade bait used to plug temporary holes.
Sure, his contract and his friendly 5-team no-trade list give Adams leverage if he ever wanted to make a move. But that time is not now. The only way Thompson moves is if (A) he personally demands a trade, or (B) a rival GM makes an astronomical, franchise-altering “Godfather” offer. That offer isn’t coming mid-season. The Buffalo Sabres’ problem isn’t Tage Thompson; the problem is the health of everyone around him.
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The post The Truth About the Tage Thompson Trade Rumors: Why the Sabres Are Holding Firm appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
