Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

It has been a very long time since the Buffalo Sabres were relevant in the NHL, and it has been a tough decade for this organization. Buffalo is in the middle of a 14-year playoff drought, and things aren’t looking promising for the future of this team.

The Sabres have to find a way forward, and this could see the team be forced to make some drastic moves to the roster. One of the wildest ones for the team to make could be moving star Tage Thompson in a trade.

Thompson has been the centerpiece for this Buffalo team for the last few years, but he could also land them a very strong return in a deal. The veteran is in the third season of a seven-year deal that he signed with the team that runs through the 2029-30 campaign.

With this type of security on the books, interested teams may pay the top price to land him, which could heavily benefit the Sabres. Buffalo would likely prefer to keep Thompson around for the long haul, but this franchise also has to think about the future of the organization.

Moving him would allow them to fully rebuild, and maybe get back into true contention down the line. Thompson remains one of the more fun players in the NHL, and there would be no shortage of teams looking to land him.

Last season for the Sabres, Thompson put up 44 goals and had 28 assists in 76 games played during the regular season. Thompson has been a consistent force in the league for years, but despite this, the Sabres haven’t been able to find any success on the ice.

This idea would be a frustrating reality for Buffalo fans, but it could be a needed one. If this team can’t turn things around soon, moving Thompson may be one of the only paths to go down if they want to turn the tide of the franchise.

This is just a prediction, NOT a report!

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One team that has expressed interest in Thompson of late is the Montreal Canadiens, and they could make sense as a landing spot for him. Montreal wants to get back to winning Stanley Cup titles, and adding a talent like Thompson could really make a difference. 

The Canadiens have a good enough farm system that could help Buffalo replenish everything, making them a decent trade partner. Montreal could also be an appealing place to play for Thompson, and he could likely thrive playing for the historic team.

Thompson’s scoring ability would give the Canadiens a dynamic attack, and he could pay off well come playoff time. This franchise is a proud one, and adding a star like Thompson could electrify the fanbase. 

If anything, this could be a way for the Canadiens to put themselves into the conversation to win in the Eastern Conference. Montreal has to do something to keep up with the other elite teams in the East, and this could be the best way to make this happen.