Buffalo Sabres’ Star Players Need to Have More Impact

The Buffalo Sabres have had a rough go around this season, and there are plenty of reasons for why that is. One in particular that stands out is the fact that their two star players Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin have not been as impactful as they have needed to be. Of the two, Dahlin has been better, but there is still a lot more that is expected of both of them. If Buffalo wants to shed their season slump and continue winning in 2024, it is going to take some massive performances from now until April. Thankfully, with the talent they possess, there is a good chance that they can perform up to a higher standard to bring home some more wins.

Tage Thompson Is Heating Up

Since the middle of December, Thompson has been a much more consistent scoring threat while he is on the ice. He has put up five goals and ten points since Dec. 19, and he looks much better as a whole than he did earlier in the season. After his breakout campaign in 2022-23, he has struggled to find consistency in his point production, and that has been a huge problem for the Sabres. When a team’s best-scoring player is unable to produce at the needed rate, there will be struggles as a whole for the offense. When Thompson is on his game and making impact plays, the offense is always flowing better for the Sabres. When he is making good offensive plays, his linemates Jeff Skinner and Alex Tuch also highly benefit from that, and they look unstoppable.

With his numbers slowly coming back to how he is expected to play, he will likely finish the season with respectable scoring numbers. Will he be close to his 47 goals and 47 assists from last season? No, but he still has the capability of surpassing the 30-goal and the 30-35 assist mark. While it would be considered a down year for sure, the more important thing is getting his confidence back so he can play like the potential 50-goal scorer that lots of people think he can be. Not every season will be a career year, and this will be the case for Thompson in 2023-24, but if he keeps up how is currently playing, he will be a dangerous player for the remainder of the season; and that is what really matters right now.

Rasmus Dahlin Should Take Over More Games

A defenseman rarely has the qualities and capabilities to control or take over a game, but Rasmus Dahlin is one of those defenders. He has elite skating ability, some of the best vision for playmaking, and a top-tier shot in the…